asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of a report (details supplied) that hundreds of pupils had left primary schools with a reading age of eight; and, if so, if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Primary School Standards.
23.
I am aware of the existence of this report although no copy of it has been submitted to the Department. I understand that it dealt with the results of a remedial education programme for students at lowest ability levels in a number of Dublin city vocational schools. Since the sample was not representative of the entire intake into second level schools, one doubts if it would be possible to draw any general conclusions from it. It must be recognised however, that even under the most favourable educational conditions, some children, because of limited ability, can achieve only low standards in the basic school subjects. Furthermore, there are many environmental influences in city areas which delay and distort a child's development and impede his education.
The current primary school curriculum is designed to enable all children to achieve that degree of facility in reading which is within their capacity and to attain an all-round development of their natural powers. I would draw the Deputy's attention to the results of the 1974 survey—that is well worth reading—carried out by the Teachers' Study Group, an independent body, which showed that a significant improvement in reading comprehension occurred in Dublin city primary schools between 1969 and 1974.
Does the Minister not think there is something rotten in the whole system of primary education in Dublin which he has inherited? Is it much bigger than we thought it was six months ago?
The Minister would in no way admit that there is anything wrong in the primary school system either in Dublin or outside it. I can assure the House that there are many countries that are regarded as being on a more sophisticated and wealthier level than we are who would be very proud to have the body of qualified teachers we have. I want to add to that that this is not a sign of any complacency on my part. We will try to remedy defects wherever they are. I want to put that on the record of the House.
Might I put it to the Minister that the fact that hundreds of children, according to the teachers, have left school with a reading age of eight shows there is something very bad in the system?
This is a serious reflection being cast by Fianna Fáil on the teachers of the country.
If we could restrain the enthusiasm—I am glad it is enthusiasm for education—of Deputy Collins I would like to make a comment on what Deputy Moore has said.
It is a disgraceful comment by Deputy Moore.
I thought the Ceann Comhairle was controlling that end of it but now Deputy Collins is not merely interested in education but the order of the House. This particular study referred to was based on a limited study of 129 first-year pupils in seven Dublin city vocational schools. There is an old proverb which says that you can make out Hercules from the nail of his finger. I do not believe that so far as educational statistics are concerned. The main burden of the report was to show how those children were dealt with and the significant progress those children made under tuition. There are, as I said in my reply, various factors, variables so far as teaching children are concerned, variables which concern the home, variables that concern the school, variables that concern the teacher. We are equipping our teachers to teach and to deal with this situation as best we can. The pupil-teacher ratio, despite, again, educational research findings to the contrary, is, I believe, the cause of some of the trouble. We are trying to remedy that as well.
What methods are used by teachers to assess pupils in relation to their reading ability? What mechanism is used to refer them to remedial teachers or special classes for slow learning pupils?
There are various standard reading tests. It is a great tribute to the research unit in Drumcondra that they have worked out particular tests that refer to this country. Very often in these matters in the past we have been depending on tests that were related to different societies, different mores, different habits of life, but we now have one of our own. It is being tested and used.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.