Vol. 567 No. 3
145 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of the Giving Children an Even Break Initiative; the purpose of the recent review of this initiative and its outcome; the number of schools which are to lose teachers as a result of this review; and the precise scale of the proposed reductions in funding for schools included in this programme. [14213/03]
Giving Children an Even Break, which is a three-year programme aimed at tackling educational disadvantage at primary level, will operate until the end of the 2003-04 school year. A total of 2,350 schools, which are participating in Giving Children An Even Break, are in receipt of a range of additional supports including teacher posts and other non-teaching supports to be targeted at disadvantaged pupils. The additional supports provided reflect the level of concentration of pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in each school invited to participate in the programme. These levels of disadvantage were established as a result of a comprehensive survey of primary schools carried out by the Educational Research Centre in March and April 2000, at my Department's request. The aim of the survey was to gain an indication of the level of disadvantage in each school using principals' responses to a questionnaire comprised of items relating to disadvantage.
146 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the case of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9 which has been notified by his officials that it is to lose two new programme teachers from 31 August 2003; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this will result in class sizes of at least 33 and a number of split classes with 28 to 30 pupils; the way in which this school can fulfil its requirements of pupil-teacher ratio required under the Giving Children an Even Break Initiative in these circumstances; and if he will undertake to review the staff allocation in this case. [14214/03]
The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the school's enrolment on 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with guidelines agreed between my Department and the education partners. An independent appeals board is now in place to decide on any appeals to ensure transparency and openness in the system. The staffing at Holy Child senior girls' school for the 2003-04 school year was considered by the appeals board. Having considered the appeal with regard to criteria outlined in Department circular 19/02, the board was satisfied that a departure from the staffing schedule is not warranted in this case. The school's board of management was notified of the decision of the appeals board on 10 April. The appeals board's decision is final. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to intervene in the operation of the independent appeals board.
This school is among 2,350 primary schools participating in Giving Children an Even Break, which is a key component of my Department's strategy to discriminate positively in favour of children who are at risk of school failure or who are experiencing educational disadvantage. Schools receive a range of additional supports including teacher posts and other non-teaching supports to be targeted at disadvantaged pupils. The additional supports to be provided reflect the level of concentration of pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in schools invited to participate in the programme. The levels of disadvantage were established as a result of a comprehensive survey of primary schools carried out by the Educational Research Centre in March and April 2000 at the request of my Department.
The aim of the survey was to gain an indication of the level of disadvantage in each school using principals' responses to a questionnaire comprised of items relating to disadvantage. Resources were allocated to schools on a sliding scale and schools with greater proportions of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds were allocated proportionately more resources than those with fewer numbers of such pupils. In the urban dimension, schools identified as having the highest concentration of pupils with characteristics that are associated with educational disadvantage were considered for additional staffing to implement a maximum class size of 20:1 in junior classes, infants through second class, and 27:1 in senior classes, third through sixth class.
Based on data supplied for the ERC survey by the school to which the Deputy refers, the school was selected in 2001 for inclusion in this category. It was allocated additional funding based on the percentage of disadvantaged pupils. Unfortunately, the school overstated the levels of disadvantage on the survey form which resulted in a miscalculation of points by the ERC. The ERC re-examined the data supplied and calculated the correct points total in respect of the school. The new total is lower than that on which the original level of staffing and funding allocation was based. Consequently, the posts allocated to the school will be suppressed at the end of the 2002-03 school year and the teachers in question will be placed on the diocesan teaching panel.
