Mary Wallace
Question:160 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education the reason school children are requested to state their father's occupation when being admitted to school. [11398/96]
Written Answers. - School Enrolment Policy.
It is the responsibility of the board of management of each school to devise and implement an enrolment policy.
The Rules for National Schools state that no child may be refused admission to a national school on account of the social position of his/her parents. Other than evidence of the date of birth of the child, the parent or guardian is not required under the rules to provide any other information.
While there are no specific rules governing the nature of information to be provided by parents/guardians on the enrolment of students in second-level schools, the Minister and the school managerial associations are agreed that it is important that each school disclose its enrolment policy and the criteria used in selecting pupils for enrolment so as to allay any fears of discrimination against individual children.