Bernard Allen
Question:494 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education if he proposes to incorporate material which will be culturally suitable to travellers and enable settled children to learn about travellers, into the school curricula.
Written Answers. - Education of Traveller Children.
The question of the education of traveller children is addressed in the Green Paper on Education. Special reading material suitable for travelling children has been provided in national schools and guidelines dealing with the education of travelling children will be sent to all national schools in the near future. In addition, pre-service and in-service courses aimed at increasing awareness of traveller culture and at combating prejudice have been organised.
My Department, in line with the proposals in the Green Paper, will give particular attention to all aspects of the education of travelling children.
The civics syllabus at primary and post-primary are sufficiently flexible to allow for the treatment of this topic aimed as they are at inculcating social and civic virtues, a sense of the common good and tolerance towards and sympathy with the needs and problems of others.