Written Answers Nos. 19-22
19. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the need in some schools, due to circumstances outside of their control, to have policies in place that prevent children running in the school yard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17590/13]
View answer
It is vitally important for children to avail of the opportunity to exercise at school. Children should be able to run and move freely in the school yard unless there are very compelling health and safety reasons for individual schools to prohibit such activity. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 sets out the responsibilities on individual school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. It is also a matter for school authorities to determine school policies, taking into account any health and safety risks to children running in the school yard and to put appropriate safeguards in place to mitigate any potential risk to the school community. While appreciating that it is not always possible to eliminate all risks, it should nevertheless be possible, with appropriate supervision, to manage them in such a manner that pupils can run in school yards provided it is done in an orderly and supervised manner.
20. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he intends to introduce annual evaluations and reviews of teacher performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17527/13]
View answer24. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce annual evaluations and reviews of teacher performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17542/13]
View answer
I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 24 together.
School boards, principals and teachers are accountable for the work of the school including the quality of learning and teaching. The new school self-evaluation system, introduced during this school year, requires principals and teachers to identify what they are doing well and what needs to improve. In addition, there is a well-established system of external inspection covering all schools. The Inspectorate's evaluations are based on classroom observations of teaching and a strong focus on learner outcomes. Reports arising from whole-school evaluations and subject inspections are published regularly. Evaluations and reviews of individual teachers' performance are also conducted during the probationary phase for newly-qualified teachers, and as part of a formal process for dealing with underperforming teachers. I believe the combination of effective school self-evaluation and robust external inspection will enable effective evaluation and monitoring of schools and teachers. Accordingly, I am not planning to introduce additional separate performance evaluations and reviews of teachers and principals.
21. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on his visit to China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17441/13]
View answer
China is a priority market for promotion of Irish education and political engagement with the country is a national priority. The Minister, Deputy Quinn, visited Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai from 9 to 16 March, accompanied by 13 higher education institutions on an Enterprise Ireland education mission. He held talks with Chinese Education Minister Yuan, at which they agreed to hold senior-official level talks later in 2013 between our two Departments to further develop the framework for education co-operation. He also met Hong Kong's Education Bureau and the Confucius Institute Agency. His programme also included the launch of UCD's Beijing-Dublin International College, an Enterprise Ireland agents' workshop, seminars at universities in Hong Kong and Beijing, alumni engagement events, the signature of 13 agreements between Irish and Chinese education institutions and a range of Irish community and business promotion events, including signing a major new agreement between Bord Bia and the Chinese Dairy Association.
22. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the fact that Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 is due to commence on 1 November, 2013, his plans to ensure that teachers are informed that they must register with the Teaching Council before that date in order to be paid from State funds. [17569/13]
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I recently announced that section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001 will commence on 1 November 2013. Subject to very limited exceptions, which will be controlled by Ministerial regulation, section 30 will prohibit payment by the State of people employed as teachers in recognised schools unless they are registered with the Teaching Council. My Department, the VECs and the Teaching Council have already engaged in extensive communications with teachers and schools. These have included advertisements in union magazines, inserts in payslips, information notes and posters for schools. Individual letters have been issued to people employed in teaching positions who are not registered informing them of the requirement to register. This information campaign will continue and intensify between now and 1 November 2013. My Department will also work closely with the IVEA, the Teaching Council, school management bodies and teacher unions in implementing this important policy.
