asked the Minister for Education if she has laid down any guidelines for the inspectorate of her Department concerning the following: (a) the number of occasions on which they should visit (i) each primary school and (ii) each post-primary school (b) the matters to be inspected and (c) the content of the report to be prepared on the inspection of both the school and each individual teacher therein.
Written Answers. - Guidelines for Inspectors.
327.
As regards the inspection of primary schools the position is that, a school report, containing an assessment of the organisation and work of the school as a whole, is furnished to the Department at regular intervals of approximately four years by the inspectors. The report refers to (a) environmental factors which influence the effectiveness of the teachers' work; (b) the organisation and atmosphere of the school and the general programme of work which is in operation; (c) the general development of pupils and their progress in the various areas of the curriculum.
General inspections of the work of individual teachers are held in the following cases: (i) teachers with the rating "not satisfactory"; (ii) teachers on probation; (iii) teachers who request a general inspection of their work; (iv) teachers who have received formal written notice that it is intended to hold a general inspection of their work.
The purpose of the general inspection is to assess the teachers's professional competence and diligence as they are reflected in the intellectual, physical and social activities he/she provides for his/her pupils, in their educational attainments and in any other important aspects of his/her work.
As regards the inspection of post-primary schools the Rules and Programme for Secondary schools lays down that "the Manager shall permit the Department's Inspectors to visit the school for the purpose of testing the efficiency of the instruction given and of ascertaining if the Department's Regulations are being observed". These two areas form the main basis for the inspector's report. Inspectors are expected to visit schools as often as their numbers and their other duties allow.