Phil Hogan
Question:17 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education the number of parenting courses organised by schools; the amount of finance made available by her Department for parenting programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Parenting Courses.
Liz O'Donnell
Question:24 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Education the new measures, if any, she proposes to take to involve parents in a meaningful way in the education of their children.
Liam Burke
Question:31 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Education the number of parenting courses organised by schools; the amount of finance made available by her Department for parenting programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Paul Connaughton
Question:66 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education the number of parenting courses organised by schools; the amount of finance made available by her Department for parenting programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Charles Flanagan
Question:92 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Education the number of parenting courses organised by schools; the amount of finance made available by her Department for parenting programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 24, 31, 66 and 92 together. I am very much in favour of parental involvement in the education of their children.
As the Deputies know my Department supported the establishment of the National Parents Council with its Primary and Post-Primary Tiers in 1985. Since then, through theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress (PESP), the Government and the Social Partners have formally recognised the promotion of parental involvement in the education of their children as an essential strategy of educational policy and practice. Under the terms of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress an annual grant of £25,000 is paid to both the Primary and Post-Primary tiers of the National Parents' Council.
I am particularly concerned that there should be parental involvement in their children's education in disadvantaged areas. Through the Home/School/Community Liaison Scheme which operates in urban areas affected by severe economic and social disadvantage local schools are supported in establishing contact with parents and encouraging them to become involved in their children's education. Nearly 150 Primary and Post-Primary schools situated in disadvantaged areas will be participating in this scheme in the 1993/94 school year.
During 1992 the National College of Industrial Relations, at the request of my Department, delivered a programme aimed at facilitating parents effective participation and involvement in supporting their children's educational development in 20 post-primary schools situated in disadvantaged areas of Dublin. Arrangements are being made for the delivery of a similar programme in 27 primary and post-primary schools in the Dublin area during the 1993-94 school year. A total of £55,000 is being provided by my Department in respect of these courses.
As well as the above direct intervention within the educational sphere course in life skills, including parenting, are provided by Vocational Educational Committees under the Adult Literacy and Community Education Programmes on an annual basis. Information is not, however, readily available in relation to the number of parenting courses nor has their cost been disaggregated from the overall expenditure of Committees.