Batt O'Keeffe
Ceist:43 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education her views on the fact that a significant segment of the young male population is failing to reach its educational potential. [22483/96]
Written Answers. - Educational Disadvantage.
A number of reports, both national and international, indicate that the educational attainment level of young males is generally lower than that of females. Participation rates of males in second level education is also less than that of females. I consider these trends to be matters of concern. I have introduced a range of measures at both primary and second level over the past few years to help redress the situation.
Educational disadvantage is being addressed through the introduction of a new targeted initiative — Breaking the Cycle. I have also expanded remedial and special education services at both primary and second level. In Ireland as in most western countries young male learners form a majority of those with special learning needs. At second level, increased participation, particularly of young males, will be facilitated by the expanded curricular provision at senior cycle. I also introduced the junior certificate elementary programme to cater for a small but significant minority of students whose needs are not adequately catered for in the present broadly based junior certificate.
My Department's gender equality committee has initiated a project in a number of schools which addresses factors in the "hidden curriculum" which may affect boys' achievements in school.
There is a commitment in the White Paper, Charting our Education Future to develop an education system that "embraces all students, female and male, on a basis of equality".
Robert Molloy
Ceist:44 D'fhiafraigh Mr. Molloy den Aire Oideachais an mbeidh sí sásta glacadh le Scoil Mhuire, An Tuairín, Béaladaingin, Contae na Gaillimhe, sa ghrúpa de na scoileanna faoi mhí-bhuntáiste i gCeanntar na nOileáin i nGaeltacht Chonamara; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [1811/97]
Glacaim leis go bhfuil an Teachta ag tagairt don tionscnamh, "Sárú Chinniúint an Mhí-Bhuntáiste" nó "Breaking the Cycle". Tá sé de chuspóir ag an tionscnamh seo cláir speisialta tacaíochta a fheidhmiú i scoileanna cathrach agus tuaithe, scoileanna ar deineadh iad a aithint mar scoileanna atá lonnaithe i gceantair agá go mór faoi mhí-bhuntáiste.
Bunaíodh an tionscnamh de thoradh ghrinnstaidéir agus taighde a rinne an Ghníomhaireacht do Chomhrac na Bochtaine agus an Foras Taighde ar Oideachas i leith an mhí-bhuntáiste oideachasúil. Mhol cinneadh amháin a d'éirigh as an taighde go ndéileálfaí leis an mhí-bhuntáiste ar bhonn níos dlúithe agus níos pointeáilte, sé sin go ndéanfaí acmhainní a dhíriú i dtreo na gceantar atá go mór faoi mhí-bhuntáiste. Dé réir torthaí an taighde freisin, níor cheart go dtabharfaí tacaíocht i leith an mhí-bhuntáiste oideachasúil ach do 16 faoin gcéad d'aos scoile na tíre. Ina leith seo tagraíodh go bhfuil an scéim faoi mhí-bhuntáiste ag freastal faoi láthair ar 17 faoin gcéad de dhaltaí na tíre. Rinne an Foras Taighde ar Oideachas dian-scrúdú ar tháscairí a bhaineann leis an mhí-bhuntáiste oideachasúil. Ba é an t-Ionad a cheap na critéir faoinar roghnaíodh na scoileanna don tionscnamh, "Breaking the Cycle" agus a rinne an próiseas roghnúcháin féin a riaradh.
Maidir leis an ghné tuaithe den tionscnamh mheas an Foras Taighde ar Oideachas go mba cheart díriú ar scoileanna i gceantair tuaithe a bhfuil níos lú ná cúigear oide iontu, a dhéanann freastal ar dhaonraí scaipthe agus a bhfuil líon suntasach de dhaltaí iontu a bhféadfadh baol a bheith ann ina leith nach n-éireodh leo sa chóras oideachais de réir a gcumais.
Is oth liom nach bhfuil an scoil a ndéanann an Teachta tagairt di i dteideal, ó thaobh méid foirme de agus ó thaobh rollaíochta de, iarratas a chur isteach ar bheith páirteach sa tionscnamh nua seo.