Written Answers. - Educational Disadvantage.
Question:
152
Dr. Upton
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
when he will establish a committee to tackle disadvantage in primary schools, as outlined in the Education Act, 1998; and if he will examine anomalies in the allocation of teachers to schools such as a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12.
[23625/01]
I am finalising arrangements regarding the composition of the Educational Disadvantage Committee being established under the Education Act, 1998, to advise me on policies and strategies to be adopted to identify and correct educational disadvantage. Its work will include tackling educational disadvantage in primary schools.
The Deputy will be aware that last January I launched a major new programme, Giving Children An Even Break, to deal with educational disadvantage in primary schools. The new programme will be run over a three year period and will cost some £26 million. The programme involves the creation of more than 200 new primary teaching posts and the allocation of cash grants to primary schools in respect of disadvantaged pupils.
The schools targeted under the programme were identified through a comprehensive and objective survey of all primary schools, carried out in March-April 2000 by the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra, on my Department's behalf. There are separate urban and rural dimensions to the new programme. Schools categorised as urban, with the highest concentrations of at risk pupils, will be supported, where necessary, over the three year period, through staff allocations, to implement a pupil-teacher ratio of 20:1 in the junior classes, infants through to second class, and a pupil-teacher ratio of 29:1 in senior classes, third class through to sixth class.
The schools in question have both been included in the urban dimension and have received supplementaryper capita grant aid in respect of the 2000-01 school year towards providing additional educational supports for the pupils concerned. Assumption Junior Boys school was allocated £4,061 and Assumption Junior Girls school was allocated £5,844 in respect of the 2000-01 school year. On the same basis, the schools will also be allocated supplementary grant aid in respect of the current school year.
Assumption Junior Girls school was one of a number of urban schools with the highest concentrations of at risk pupils that was considered for additional teaching staff under the new programme. It has benefited from the allocation of four mainstream teaching posts to implement the maximum class size guidelines of 20:1 in junior classes. The school has no senior classes. Assumption Junior Boys school was not considered eligible for additional teaching staff, based on the level of concentration of at risk pupils in the schools as reflected in the Educational Research Centre survey outcome.
Where schools expressed concern about the outcome of the survey in respect of their school, they were advised to make representations to my Department outlining their circumstances. Schools were informed that these representations would then be referred to the Educational Research Centre for consideration and my Department would then consider the position of these schools.
In accordance with the approach outlined, representations from Assumption Junior Boys school were forwarded to the Educational Research Centre. My Department has received a report from the Educational Research Centre and the situation of this school and other such schools is under consideration. The school in question will be informed of the outcome in the near future.
