Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 6

Written Answers. - Inservice Training.

Seán Crowe

Question:

206 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress which has been made towards the implementation of recommendation number two of the report of the action group on access to third level education that an independent evaluation be undertaken by his Department, in the context of the current audit of guidance provision or otherwise, to determine the effectiveness of existing provision of guidance counselling at second level, with specific regard to third level access by students in all schools, both urban and rural; the discussions which have taken place around the issue; and when he expects the recommendation to be implemented. [17036/03]

Seán Crowe

Question:

207 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress which has been made towards the implementation of recommendation number three of the report of the action group on access to third level education that there be further development in service training and other supports for guidance councillors, having specific regard to third level access; the discussions which have taken place around the issue; and when he expects the recommendation to be implemented. [17037/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together.

The audit of guidance provision, referred to by the Deputy, was a once off audit and was completed by the National Centre for Guidance in Education, NCGE, in 2000. Earlier this year I announced a complete review of guidance and counselling in post primary schools, which would include the issues referred to in the relevant recommendation of the report of the action group on access to third level education. Planning for this review is currently under way and will be carried out by the guidance inspectors of my Department in co-operation with the NCGE. The review will commence in September 2003.

Some 103 schools benefited from the additional 50 guidance posts referred to in the access report. More than 70 of these schools have been inspected to date by the guidance inspectors. In addition to visiting the schools, the inspectors have sought feedback by questionnaire on the implementation of the initiative in each school. The returned questionnaires are currently being analysed and together with the reports of the inspection visits will form a report of the initiative, which I have requested.

The recommendation of the action group relating to in-career development will continue to be taken into account in relation to the provision of in-career development programmes for career guidance teachers. The in-career development unit of the Department of Education and Science supports a range of inservice training activities for guidance counsellors in second level schools. In the main, these activities take the form of seminars, conferences and short courses and are a response to needs as identified by the teachers, which include the services for young people at risk and the preparation for access to third level education.

In addition to the above, further support is being provided through a secondment to the TCD School of Education for a M.Sc. degree in educational guidance and counselling. In total, funding for in-service training supports in this area in 2003 is in the region of €190,000.