Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Dec 1998

Vol. 497 No. 5

Written Answers - Home-School Liaison Scheme.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

367 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to evaluate the implementation and success of the home liaison scheme in order to take account of the home environment of students when assessing their educational needs and performance. [25694/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The home-school-community liaison scheme was evaluated by the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra, during its pilot phase from autumn 1990 until June 1993.

The scheme was introduced to schools that were designated as serving areas of disadvantage to develop and promote partnership and collaboration between parents and teachers in the interests of the children's learning. Its focus is on the salient adults in children's lives, namely parents and teachers, and the indirect focus is on the educational attainment of the children, their retention in the school system and their lifelong attitudes to education. The evaluation of the pilot phase of the scheme indicated that benefits were accruing to the children of parents who were actively involved in scheme activities and the practices. These benefits related to factors such as pupils' attitudes, attendance, attention to homework, behaviour and discipline. The evaluation also indicated that practices and processes were being put in place that boded well for the ongoing effects of the scheme.

The development of the scheme continues to be supported by in-career development for the liaison co-ordinators and other school personnel and the work is being monitored by the Department's inspectors during routine school visits and during whole-school evaluations.

I am currently examining the scope for further development of this valuable support service in the context of an overall review of my Department's support services for disadvantaged areas that I am currently carrying out.