Vol. 536 No. 1
169 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if the introduction of whole school evaluation is now contingent on a satisfactory settlement of the dispute with the ASTI; and if not, if he has plans to proceed with the introduction of whole school assessment independently at an agreed point in the future in the event of a settlement with the ASTI not being reached. [13381/01]
Whole school evaluation, WSE, is designed to fulfil my obligations under the Education Act, 1998 with respect to school and system evaluation and, in tandem with school development planning, the achievement of improved quality in education at school level.
The consultation process leading to the mainstream introduction of WSE is still in place. The views and advice of all the education partners have contributed to the continuing development of WSE, support for which is evident in the wide-ranging consensus achieved through the design and pilot project phases. It is my intention to introduce WSE at the earliest possible opportunity, taking due cognisance of the perspectives of all of the partners, including the ASTI.
A central element in the introduction of WSE will be the availability to schools of the criteria to be used in the school evaluation process. However, these criteria have an equally important developmental function as a tool for school self-evaluation. It is intended that schools will be able to use the criteria on a continuous basis in reviewing their own performance as part of their developmental planning process. The criteria are being finalised at present and I expect to be in a position to publish them as an aid to school self-review in the very near future.
