asked the Minister for Education whether there will be an entrance examination for pupils who wish to avail themselves of free post-primary education.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Post-Primary Education.
23.
Mr. O'Malley
There will be no Departmental requirement of an entrance examination to post-primary schools.
Schools may for their own reasons decide to hold entrance examinations and I cannot interfere with their discretion in this matter. While I would have no objection to the use of exams for assessment purposes I would deprecate the use of such exams for the purpose of creaming off the students of higher ability. It is my intention however to make facilities available for the accommodation of all children seeking post-primary education.
Is the Minister aware that in fact entrance examinations are taking place in Dublin at the present time which will cut across this possibility of free education being available to most schoolchildren?
Mr. O'Malley
I am aware that in certain schools—it is not, I am glad to say widespread—examinations are taking place. In that connection, I should like to say that the rules and programme for secondary schools did prescribe an entrance test each year up to the school year 1966-67. The purpose of the test was to establish that the pupil was sufficiently advanced to enable him to follow, with reasonable success, a course of secondary education. Then, in December last, all schools were notified that this requirement was being abolished; indeed such a requirement never existed for vocational education.
Will the Minister be taking any action in these cases if they are brought to his attention? I know of one or two cases, and other Deputies, I am sure, are also aware of cases, where in fact school authorities have actually held these examinations with the express purpose of deciding who will go ahead.
Mr. O'Malley
I am aware that in certain instances these examinations are taking place, not for the purpose of assessing the ability of the student. All we can do is communicate with these people and intimate my views to them. I hope that by discussion and exchange of views they will act in a reasonable way.