Vol. 439 No. 4
167 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education if there is an obligation on the management of a second level school to make available to parents the schools intake policy criteria particularly where a child is refused access.
My Department has been involved in discussions with the post-primary school managerial associations in relation to the application of fair and objective selection criteria for entry to second level schools. An agreed memorandum of understanding was drawn up and a copy issued to each post-primary school. While school enrolment policy is a matter for the authorities of each individual school, my Department and the national representatives of school managerial associations agreed that selection on the basis of academic ability must be discontinued. It was also agreed that it is important that each school should disclose its enrolment policy and the criteria used in selecting pupils for enrolment. Parents will thus be fully informed on the selection procedures and this will help to allay fears of discrimination against their children. The agreed memorandum also provided that, where difficulties arise in the enrolment of a pupil or pupils in any particular type of post-primary school, the Department and the appropriate managerial body will, through the mechanism of a monitoring committee for each particular sector, consider each case with a view to resolving the difficulty following consultation, where necessary, with the school authorities and the appropriate trustees.
