asked the Minister for Education if she will make provision for all parents of children in compulsory education to receive each year a summary written statement of the curriculum to be covered in their class.
16.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Parents' Written Curricula Information.
9.
asked the Minister for Education if she will make provision for all parents of children in compulsory education to receive each year a summary written statement of the curriculum to be covered in their class.
27.
asked the Minister for Education if she will make provision for all parents of children in compulsory education to receive each year a summary written statement of the curriculum to be covered in their class.
30.
asked the Minister for Education if she will make provision for all parents of children in compulsory education to receive each year a summary written statement of the curriculum to be covered in their class.
37.
asked the Minister for Education if she will make provision for all parents of children in compulsory education to receive each year a summary written statement of the curriculum to be covered in their class.
39.
asked the Minister for Education if she will arrange to have a summary statement of the relevant school curriculum for each year made available by each national school to the parents of each child in order that parents will be able to assist their children in an informed way.
65.
asked the Minister for Education if she will make provision for all parents of children in compulsory education to receive each year a summary written statement of the curriculum to be covered in their class.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 16, 27, 30, 37, 39 and 65 together.
In the case of primary schools, the curriculum, as set out in the two volume primary school curriculum handbook, asks schools and teachers to base their work on the child's environment, to provide for the individual differences among the pupils and to aim at a degree of integration of the areas of the curriculum. It allows a considerable degree of flexibility to schools and teachers in adapting the curriculum to their own situations.
In these circumstances, there would obviously be a difficulty in providing a summary statement of the kind envisaged on a national basis which would accommodate the needs of individual parents. However, schools are strongly urged to develop a school plan covering many areas of the school's activities, including curriculum. It is possible that information on the curriculum could be provided to parents in the context of the school plan.
Currently, as Deputies will be aware, the primary school curriculum is being examined by the Primary Curriculum Review Body appointed by me. It may well be that the Deputies' suggestion would best be considered when the review body's report has been presented.
For the period of compulsory education in post-primary schools there are prescribed syllabi which are published for purchase by interested parties. This arrangement caters adequately for the demand for such information. Moreover, schools in general are very anxious to secure the co-operation of parents in the education of their children and, in the normal course, respond willingly to any queries parents might have about the conduct and content of their children's education. Furthermore, a representative of the National Parents' Council is among the 16 members of the National Council for Curriculum Assessment, one of whose functions is to advise on the curricula at first and second levels.
Would the Minister agree that home/school links constitute one of the crucial factors in determining the success of education? Is she aware that the recent study undertaken by Alastair Macbeth indicated that, comparatively speaking, Ireland emerged one of the worst countries in Europe in terms of the efficacy of home/school links? Would she agree that this may be due in part to the fact that, traditionally, parents have had very small levels of representation, for example, one representative only on the national curriculum body to which she referred which is totally inadequate? Would she agree that this assertion should be considered as a matter of urgency by the committee in question so that action can be taken soon?
I share many of the Deputy's sentiments that there should be more parental representation on various educational bodies. I would be prepared to examine the NCCA in the light of that representation. I have been thinking about it for some time and have received requests on the issue. With regard to home/school links, I agree these are vital in promoting parental integration in school activities.
My Department recently undertook a survey of the disadvantaged scheme, initiated by my predecessor, stipulating that a sum of money be allocated each year to schools in disadvantaged areas. One of the aims of that scheme was to encourage home/school liaison. The results of that survey clearly show that, while the funds in their entirety have been well spent — although much more could be spent — the portion which should be allocated to home/school liaison has not been adequately addressed. I am now reviewing that scheme for disadvantaged areas and its funding to ascertain how it could more adequately address the question of home/school liaison. Obviously if all the partners in education, first, the pupils, then parents, teachers and management, work together it will be for the better dissemination of all knowledge.
Is the Minister aware — as I am sure she is — that teachers in national schools are organising extremely useful meetings for parents at the commencement of each school year? I should say I speak with experience in this regard. Unfortunately, a written statement of the information conveyed at that meeting is not made available afterwards. Even if that information imparted orally at a meeting were put in writing and circulated to parents, would the Minister agree that that alone would be extremely useful for parents who are unable to attend and would help others to remember what they have been told at the meeting at the beginning of the year? Without any measure of compulsion, would the Minister ask schools to ascertain whether that could be arranged?
I am not as young as Deputy Bruton so I do not have first hand knowledge of what takes place in the opening days of the primary school term. I know the Deputy has a young family. I am aware, of course, that schools are very good at holding these open parental/school discussion evenings at the commencement of the school term, inviting parents and informing them of what will take place in the school year ahead. I will take up with management the question of conveying that information in some written form to parents. At primary level it would be a matter for management and the unions together. Without any element of compulsion, I agree it is a suggestion worthy of consideration and one which the schools might well be interested in implementing.
I thank the Minister.