Richard Bruton
Ceist:55 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has for the development of performance management in schools. [3451/00]
Priority Questions. - Performance Management Systems.
The implementation of performance management systems is one of the wide range of objectives of the strategic management initiative. In July 1999 the Taoiseach announced the extension of the strategic management initiative on the modernisation of the Civil Service to the wider public service, including the wider education sector. A core objective of the SMI is the provision of improved service delivery through ongoing improvements in performance management systems.
Management performance systems are concerned with the totality of performance. The distinguishing features of such systems are greater role clarity, the setting of objectives and related performance targets, development of individual competencies and the monitoring of progress. A considerable amount of progress has been made by my Department in developing the basis for school performance management systems for primary and second level schools. Systems are being developed in partnership with school management, teachers and parents which will facilitate the setting of objectives, attainment of targets and the provision of a better service to parents and pupils.
The systems are contained in the school development planning initiative. This initiative provides that every school will partake in a school development planning process involving a school plan dealing with total curriculum and the organisation of all the school's resources, including staff, space, facilities, equipment, time and finance. It will also include the school's policies on a diverse range of administrative and organisational issues. In accordance with the Education Act, 1998, it will set down the objectives of the school relating to equality of access to and participation in the school and the measures which the school proposes to take to achieve those objectives.
The school plan is a collaborative process and its preparation must, therefore, involve consul tation with all the partners, including parents. Over the period of the plan, it will be subject to ongoing review internally and at the end of the period it will be evaluated in relation to the extent to which the objectives it set out have been achieved. External evaluation of school plans will be undertaken by the Department in a number of schools each year. This model of school planning, which has the support of all the stakeholders, will provide a practical and realistic system of performance management in schools and will deliver an informative and meaningful evaluation of the school's performance.
I welcome the Minister to the House. This is the first occasion on which I have had a chance to greet him.
In relation to evaluation results of schools, does the Minister believe the results of such evaluation should be disclosed to all parents in the school?
The evaluation will be an in-school mechanism. Parents will participate within the school, therefore they will be aware of the performance standards set and the achievements of those standards. In relation to individuals, that is a separate question but standards will be set on general performance. This is an excellent approach and one which has the support of the national partners.
I welcome the Minister's commitment that this information will be disclosed to parents because this is new departmental policy. In future will there be full consultation with parents on whole school evaluation and will parents be represented at all stages of that evaluation process?
The general performance development will involve all the stakeholders who will participate in the process.
That is a welcome development because it has not been the case in the past.
That is the situation as set out in the national plan which has just been agreed. Needless to say, the development of the initiative has yet to take place and discussions on its implementation are ongoing.
I do not wish to take advantage of the Minister in his first couple of weeks in office. In principle, his approach is very welcome. Is he aware that to date parents as a body have not been involved in and have not received the results of whole school evaluation, they have been second class citizens in relation to this process. I hope the Minister, on mature recollection or reflection, does not change his mind on the issue. It is a welcome development which I hope will be delivered.
The intention is that all the partners in school will participate in the development of the objectives and targets and will, therefore, share in the assessment within the school.