Vol. 502 No. 3
74 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has for pupil participation in education at different levels; the studies, if any, his Department has undertaken in this regard; if the Department has sought comparative research; his views on school councils at second level; and his further views on a provision in the timetable for discussion in a class period of general issues affecting pupils in the school. [7774/99]
At primary level there is no formal or prescribed mechanism for participation of pupils in matters relating to school organisation. However many schools encourage and promote active pupil involvement in school activities e.g. games, selection and evaluation of library books for school. At second level some schools have established school councils which act in an advisory role to the management and staff. Other schools have a well developed prefect system.
I strongly favour the establishment of school councils at second level and the Education Act, 1998, states that students of a post-primary school may establish a student council. The Act also states that a school board shall establish and maintain procedures for the purposes of informing students in a school of the activities of the school and shall encourage the establishment of a school council and assist students who wish to establish a council and also when a school council has been established.
I am aware of research undertaken for my Department by the ESRI in a recent publication "Do Schools Differ?". In the schools surveyed pupil involvement was relatively high in one quarter of the schools and there was no formal involvement in one third of the schools. Schools with well developed pastoral care systems, larger schools and girls – only secondary schools are likely to have the highest pupil involvement reflecting the presence of school councils/well developed prefect systems.
