Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 1

Written Answers. - Pilot Programmes.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

104 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide details of all pilot projects and programmes under the auspices of his Department; the length of each; the stage of each; the plans, if any, he has to mainstream these programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25165/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

My Department has a number of pilot programmes in place at present to test models of response to the problem of educational disadvantage. In addition, pilot programmes in the areas of teacher support and curriculum developments are also in place.

The pilot programme currently in place include the following: the early start pre-school pilot programme; the support teacher pilot programme, the breaking the cycle of disadvantage pilot programme; the eight to 15 year old early school leavers pilot programme; the teachers employee assistance scheme and the junior cycle physical education pilot project; the schemes for the disposal of unwanted chemicals from second level schools; the adult education guidance service and the women's education initiative.

The following is a brief outline for the current position of each programme. The early start pre-school programme has been evaluated and this evaluation will be taken into account when considering the future direction of the project.

The support teacher pilot programme, which was formerly known as the teacher counsellor programme, was introduced in 1995. This programme is being monitored by my Department on an ongoing basis. I am currently considering the interim evaluation report on the operation of this project.

The breaking the cycle pilot project was introduced in the autumn of 1996 and is scheduled to operate in the participating schools over a planned five year period. My Department is closely monitoring the operation of the scheme while the Education Research Centre is evaluating it. The future of the scheme as a model for addressing educational disadvantage in urban and rural settings will be considered in the light of the findings in the evaluation report which is due in the year 2001.

The eight to 15 year old early school leavers initiative, which is operating in 14 project areas from September 1998 to June 2000, is currently testing models of response to the problem of early school leaving, with a view to identifying effective approaches to the problem, which could be replicated across the education system. The initiative is being evaluated by the Children's Research Centre, Trinity College and the final evaluation report is expected in September 1000. The question of expanding this initiative will be considered in light of the outcome of the evaluation of the present pilot phase.

The employee assistance scheme for primary and post primary teachers was established during the 1997-98 school year and is due to conclude at the end of the current school year. The pilot scheme currently operates from three education centres and covers teachers in Dublin city and county, Cork city and county and counties Roscommon, Galway and Mayo. The operation of the scheme is being reviewed and based on that review decisions will be taken on the future of the scheme.

The junior cycle physical education pilot project aims to assist in the development of a new syllabus in physical education and to develop a related model of in-service. The project started in spring 1998. The field work is due to finish this December and a report is expected early in the new year. The project involved 60 teachers from 59 schools and the field work consisted of different schools teaching various areas of a draft syllabus, in-service training for the teachers concerned and evaluation of the process. Decisions concerning the introduction of the new syllabus into schools generally will be taken following the report on the pilot project.

The pilot scheme for the disposal of unwanted chemicals from second level schools is another initiative. My Department in conjunction with curriculum development unit and the Health and Safety Authority arranged for a training programme to assist and advise all second level schools on the disposal and storage of unwanted chemicals. The programme was conducted in April and June 1998 for science teachers from all second level schools. It is envisaged that this training programme will have enabled schools to review their chemical stocks, to arrange for the safe storage of chemicals which will be required for future use and to arrange for the disposal of unwanted chemicals which can be disposed of safely in accordance with the guidelines already given. The curriculum development unit will update its database of unwanted chemicals held by schools in the context of this further work.

My Department also established a pilot project in conjunction with the school management authorities and the Health and Safety Authority on the collection of unwanted chemicals which cannot be disposed of by schools themselves. A working group including representatives of my Department, the Health and Safety Authority and the school authorities was established to oversee this pilot project. The project was carried out in a number of community and comprehensive schools in the Dublin area. The results of the project are being evaluated at present and I expect them to be available shortly. On receipt of this evaluation my Department will consider how best all second level schools can be assisted in the disposal of unwanted and unidentified chemicals.

A pilot adult guidance service is being developed by a working group, set up in September 1999 and representative of the relevant interests and expertise in association with the National Centre for Guidance in Education. The service will be piloted in a small number of urban and rural settings and will cover a selection of programmes in the adult literacy, VTOS, adult and community education fields. At present, applications are being received from local interests who wish to pilot the service in their areas. The question of mainstreaming must await the outcome of the piloting process and will depend on the future availability of resources. However provision has been secured in the overall context of the national development plan for a rapid expansion in this area.

Under the women's education initiative, which is 75% funded by the European Social Fund, 13 educational projects are being piloted during the calendar years 1998 and 1999. All have the empowerment of marginalised women as their objective. Decisions on the mainstreaming of any of these pilot programmes will be taken in the light of an evaluation of their success, the funding under the national development plan and emerging developments in the White Paper on Adult Education.