Written Answers. - School Suspensions and Expulsions.
Mary Harney
Question:
37
Miss Harney
asked the
Minister for Education
the plans, if any, she has to address the problem within the education system of young persons who have been excluded from the system through suspension or expulsion; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12682/96]
Micheál Martin
Question:
202
Mr. Martin
asked the
Minister for Education
her views on the increasing number of suspensions and expulsions of children from schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12825/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 202 together.
Under the rules for national schools, no pupil shall be struck off the rolls for breaches of discipline without the prior consent of the patron and unless alternative arrangements are made for the enrolment of the pupil at another suitable school.
At second-level the managerial authorities of each school are responsible for ensuring that a fair and efficient code of behaviour, encompassing rules, sanctions and procedures, is drawn up and applied in the school. In 1990 and 1991, my Department issued Guidelines Towards a Positive Policy for School Behaviour and Discipline together with A Suggested Code of Behaviour and Discipline to all schools. The guidelines do not include a system of reporting suspensions to the Department.
Within these guidelines individual boards are given the discretion to work out specific details of their policy on school discipline. The guidelines lay considerable stress on the use of suspension only as a last resort. Circumstances will vary from school to school and it is only those intimately involved with a particular school who can draw up the detail of a code of discipline appropriate for that school.
I propose to have these guidelines reviewed during the next school year. This review will be carried out in consultation with the partners in education and will be influenced by the conclusions of a research project currently being undertaken with support from my Department.
In cases where parents feel aggrieved with a decision to expel a student they may bring the matter to the attention of my Department which arranges for appropriate investigation. My Department endeavours through a process of consultation with the schools and through its inspectorate to assist in the re-instatement of the pupil in the school or alternatively, his or her placement in another school.
In more difficult situations, my Department's psychological service is available to assess pupils in order to determine the nature and extent of any special needs with a view to having them addressed in the most appropriate manner. Programmes such as Youth Encounter Projects and Youthreach are designed to cater for pupils whose needs can best be dealt with outside of the mainstream school system.
The School Attendance-Truancy report, published in April 1994, addressed the question of suspensions and expulsions from schools. Subsequent to the publication of this report a task force was established within the Department to examine submissions on the report and to consider and make recommendations as to future action required to address the problems of truancy at primary and second level. The work of the Truancy Task Force is nearing completion.
