Vol. 398 No. 2
12 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to recent calls from the ASTI and the TUI for an investigation into grind schools; if she intends to hold any such investigation; if she intends to introduce rules governing the operation of such schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The institutions referred to are private commercial enterprises. They do not come under the jurisdiction of my Department and, consequently, I am not in a position to investigate or regulate their operations.
I understood that the Minister had some say in all educational establishments. The point about the schools is that they are anti-education, they are exploiting the fear of failure and the stresses on parents to make students attend their schools. Has the Minister any way of regulating what is being taught at those schools, the method of cramming and so on? Surely the Minister, and the Department, have some say in regard to all educational establishments.
These schools are private commercial enterprises and they satisfy the demands of their clients. If clients are unhappy with the service they will not continue to avail of it. My role is to see that there is a place in post-primary education for every child who requires it and that competent and qualified teachers are provided in those schools. I do not have any authority to intervene in the running of the schools referred to by the Deputy.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): Will the Minister accept that one of the factors that encourages grind schools is that the standard for some of the subjects as set down in honours papers — I speak from experience in regard to Irish and English having obtained a BA — is almost the equivalent of BA standard some years ago. At what stage are we going to say that children have gone beyond the level of information they should have? Will the Minister consider reviewing the standards set for the honours papers in the leaving certificate?
The Deputy is introducing new matter.
No, he is not. I am sorry, it is a matter for the Ceann Comhairle to say whether he is or is not. The NCCA have set up a standardisation committee to look at this. The Deputy's point has a certain amount of merit in it.
Will the Minister agree that one of the reasons people have to have recourse to grind schools is that some students spend only five years in secondary school before sitting the leaving certificate examination while others spend six years and that those who spend only five years tend to have to rely on private sector schools to supplement what they may not otherwise obtain, and that that is something within her control? Will the Minister agree that by relying solely, as we do, on written examinations as a method of assessment and not using other methods we are putting greater stress on the sort of skills and aptitudes that can be imparted through grind schools?
I do not agree with the Deputy's assertion. If one were to do a survey of a cross-section attending the institutions of which we speak, I am sure one would find they were varied. The Deputy's second question related to the assessment and examination procedures and the reliance on written work vis-àvis any other type of assessment. As the Deputy knows, the NCC have made proposals to me — to which I will be responding shortly — on all matters relating to the junior certificate. The NCC have just started a study of the senior cycle and the issues to which the Deputy referred will be addressed.
Is the Minister aware that health inspectors can go into private factories to ensure that the health of workers is not damaged? Has the Minister the power to put inspectors in schools to monitor the teachers, what is being taught, and how it is taught?
That is not the function of inspectors of the Department of Education.
Will the Minister agree that the reason for the growth in grind schools is our points system, because people have to get an enormous number of points to gain a place in a third level institution? The failure of the Minister to provide an adequate number of places in third level institutions will mean the continuation of growth in this area.
I was hoping somebody would ask me that question. With the initiative we took in the budget this year——
There is no third level college in Dún Laoghaire.
Stop being parochial. Over the next three years we will have provided an extra 4,000 university places and there will be extra places in regional colleges through a similar strategy which I am adopting with the use of the Structural Funds. Beginning next September, there will be a greater number of places available.
What about Tallaght?
I thank the Deputy for reminding me that there will be an RTC in Tallaght.
What about Athlone?
We have a grand RTC in Athlone which now caters for 2,400 pupils.
Question No. 13, please.
