Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2005
63 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to address the growing problem of indiscipline in schools; her views on the threat of strike action from secondary school teachers if this matter is not dealt with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3013/05]
View answerMy Department has provided guidelines to boards of management to assist them in discharging their obligations in the area of school discipline. These guidelines, which issued in 1991, were drawn up following consultation with representatives of management, teachers and parents, and are sufficiently flexible to allow each school authority to adapt them to suit the particular needs of the school.
Each board of management is responsible for formulating, in consultation with parents, a fair and efficient code of behaviour. This code should ensure that the individuality of each child is accommodated while acknowledging the right of each child to education in a relatively disruption-free environment. The code should also include provision for dealing with serious breaches of discipline and continuously disruptive pupils.
I recently established a task force to consider and report on the issue of student behaviour in second level schools. The task force is chaired by Dr. Maeve Martin of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.
I want the work of this task force to provide a solid foundation for developing policies and best practice in our schools into the future. I expect that the task force will link closely to a wide range of interests across our education system on this very important issue.
A consultative group will also be formed, comprising all the partners in education and allowing for their input to the deliberations of the task force. In addition, I asked that the task force would constitute fora of teachers, parents and students with a view to testing emerging ideas and proposals.
The terms of reference of the task force are to examine the issue of disruptive student behaviour as it impacts upon teaching and learning; to consider the effectiveness of strategies at present employed to address it; to advise on existing best practice, both nationally and internationally, in fostering positive student behaviour in schools and classrooms; and to make recommendations on how best to promote an improved climate for teaching and learning in classroom and schools.
In recent days the task force has advertised in the national press inviting submissions from interested individuals and organisations.
I have asked the task force to make recommendations by June 2005 and complete its work by the end of 2005. However, it may produce interim reports to highlight various issues of analysis and research.
As the Deputy can see, the matter is being comprehensively addressed in a way which will take into account the concerns of teachers, parents and students themselves. I am confident therefore that the question of industrial action will not arise in this context.
