asked the Minister for Education if he will state to whom a circular entitled Community School, dated October 1970 and issued from his Department, was addressed; and if it reflects Government policy.
36.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Community School Circular.
35.
asked the Minister for Education whether any consultations took place before the issuing of the policy statement on post-primary education; whether teacher organisations were consulted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together.
On numerous occasions in this House and also in An Seanad I have referred to the necessity to secure in every area of the country post-primary educational provision which would be such as to cater for the aptitude and ability of all the pupils in the area. I referred in this respect also to the necessity to establish larger school units as no small school could by itself provide the range of subjects and facilities which would be required.
The memorandum to which the Deputies refer was in the nature of a working document, not a circular. It brought together in a form suitable for discussion my ideas as to how what I had in mind could be achieved by the establishment of community schools. As a preliminary to the discussion with interested parties which would be necessary copies of the memorandum were sent to the Catholic hierarchy.
Can the Minister state if there was any reason why the memorandum or circular was unsigned other than having the notice of the Department of Education at the bottom of the memorandum?
There was no particular reason.
Does the Minister think it was advisable to issue this circular when, apparently, many teaching bodies considered they had not been consulted properly?
As I said in reply to the question, the memorandum was issued to the hierarchy as a preliminary to the discussion I intend having with interested parties. I should like to make a few points about this document. I wish clearly to underline the fact that it is working document. I was somewhat surprised at the emotional manner in which the document was dealt with, as if it were something new and had not been heard of before. In fact, there is nothing in this document on which I did not speak in this House, in the Seanad and in many speeches outside the Oireachtas.
I have expressed concern on many occasions that there should be equality of educational opportunity as well as free education. I think in this age when people are very concerned about education, and when young people are flocking into post-primary schools, it is essential that the schools should be able to provide a wide curriculum.
The broad range of subjects required could be provided in individual schools in the cities and larger towns because of their big enrolment. In many of the small towns throughout the country, for historical reasons, there are two or three post-primary schools and it was obvious to me that due to the relatively low enrolment it would not be possible to provide in such schools the wide curriculum that is necessary to cater for the aptitudes and abilities of all the pupils.
We therefore tried to get co-operation between these schools so that between them they would have sufficient numbers on the rolls to be able to provide the wide curriculum about which I spoke. I would like to mention the fact that the decision in relation to the schools coming together in co-operation will be a local decision. I want particularly to emphasise that the State will not be represented on the board of management. The community school will be just as independent of the State as any existing post-primary school. The schools will be conducted by the same people who are running them now, except perhaps in a different manner.
Is the Minister now in possession of any information which suggests that any of the bodies involved in teaching in this country are opposed to the working document which he has issued? Is the Minister aware of any opposition to that document at the moment?
No, I am not so aware.
Has the Minister been informed that there is strong opposition or strong criticism of the terms of that document in certain quarters among bodies involved in teaching?
I have no such information. As I explained to the House this is a working document and will be discussed with all concerned.
Does that mean that the terms of the document, as published, cannot be regarded as final and that the details will be discussed between all interested parties and are open to negotiation or amendment, as the case may be?
Certainly. The Deputy is probably aware of the fact that it was not the intention that it be published at this stage.
Is it intended to compensate religious orders for interference with school property?
There is no question of interference by the State with school property. I wish to knock this idea on the head immediately. As explained, the State will not be on the board of management of these schools or assume ownership in any form. The schools will enjoy the same freedom as does any post-primary school at the present time.