Michael Ring
Question:175 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if it is compulsory for a primary school child to take music lessons in school, particularly as the lessons must be paid for by the child's parents. [6198/02]
Written Answers. - Compulsory Lessons.
Music forms part of the revised primary school curriculum and schools are obliged to provide music instruction for their pupils. Boards of management of primary schools are expected to employ fully qualified teachers, able to teach all aspects of the curriculum including music. As a result there should be no need to employ the services of a music instructor to provide music lessons during school time. Should a music teacher be employed, however, such a teacher should act as assistant to the class teacher. The class teacher should be fully aware of the planned content of lessons and should be present at all times during the lessons so that he-she will be in a position to expand on the content in the absence of the outside teacher.
While the board of management may employ the services of a music instructor during school hours and ask the pupil's parents to contribute to the cost of running such classes, it should be noted that all pupils have a right to attend classes held during school time irrespective of whether their parents choose to contribute to the cost. In this regard parents can be requested to contribute to the costs of running such classes, but no undue pressure can be brought to bear in order to make parents contribute. If parents choose, for whatever reason, not to contribute, their child still has a right to attend all classes held within school time. Therefore, in relation to music lessons held during school hours, all pupils in classes at whom these lessons are aimed must be allowed participate, irrespective of whether their parents have contributed to the cost of the lessons. In addition, the class teacher must be present for all such lessons.