Thomas P. Broughan
Question:20 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans in respect of the restoration of the 1:250 ratio for career guidance counsellors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2764/02]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
I allocated 50 additional posts for guidance and counselling to second level schools this year under the guidance enhancement initiative to enhance the provision of guidance to young people at risk, to improve links between schools and the world of work and to improve the take-up of science subjects. This initiative, which benefits 103 schools throughout the country, is being monitored by a group representative of the partners in education.
There are now more guidance counsellors employed by schools than at any previous time. A total of 630 whole-time teacher equivalents, inclusive of the 50 posts under the guidance enhancement initiative, have been allocated to second level schools this year. As a result, schools, whatever their size, are in a position to ensure that pupils have access to counselling and career guidance by qualified personnel.
In relation to the current availability of guidance services, the results of an audit of all second level schools conducted on behalf of my Department by the National Centre for Guidance in Education clearly show that a significant number of schools are not fully utilising the resources currently being made available to them by my Department for guidance and that, in many schools, the service is not adequately targeted at pupils at risk. In these circumstances, my first priority is to ensure that the resources made available to schools for guidance are fully utilised for that purpose.
In line with the Government's priority to promote social inclusion, my other priority is to ensure that those young people who are most at risk of dropping out of the education system early are a major focus of guidance provision in schools. As a result, any future enhancement of provision to individual schools will be conditional on their making a commitment to providing a service to all their pupils which would reflect Government priorities and their pupils' needs.
The National Centre for Guidance in Education has provided a wide range of support materials for guidance counsellors and schools generally. It is currently finalising new and detailed guidelines for schools on guidance provision. It is essential that schools should see guidance as an integral part of whole school provision and guidance and counselling should form part of the school development planning process.
Equally, schools are encouraged to use resources provided under other initiatives, such as the stay at school retention initiative to enhance their guidance provision, especially for those pupils most at risk.
Ireland is taking part in an international study of guidance provision currently being undertaken by the OECD in 14 countries. The study involves a detailed examination by an expert team from the OECD of all aspects of guidance provision for school pupils and adults. The report of the study will be published by the OECD during 2003.