Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 5

Written Answers. - School Development Planning.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

62 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, he will outline when it is expected that each school will have a school plan; the assistance, if any, that will be available to schools to draw up plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16128/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

A school plan or the process of school development planning is by its nature ongoing. Many schools at primary and second level have been engaged in school development for some time and are at various stages in the developmental process. There has been a strong tradition of school development planning in the primary sector for over 20 years and experience of school evaluations indicates that the vast majority of schools have documented various aspects of curriculum and school policies as part of a school plan. About 84% of secondary schools and community and comprehensive schools surveyed recently – response rate 65% – were engaged in the school planning process or had a school plan. A survey of VEC schools is being planned at present.

Schools are being assisted in the school development planning process in a number of ways as part of a £5 million expenditure over the years 1999-2002: comprehensive school development planning guidelines were published for primary schools in the summer of 1999 to provide a uniform template for drawing up a school plan; my Department published School Development Planning – An Introduction for Second Level Schools in September 1999; detailed school development planning guidelines will be issued to second level schools by September 2001 following a development project being undertaken by 130 schools at present; the process is being further assisted by national co-ordination teams at both primary and second level; additional full-time and part-time facilitators have been trained and will be available to assist schools;a total of 717 schools mainly serving areas of disadvantage are being grant aided at present to assist them in the process; and it is intended to extend grant aid to all first and second level schools on a phased basis during the period 1999-2002.

It is anticipated that between now and the end of 2002 all schools will have embarked on or consolidated their school development planning process. It is also hoped that most schools would have made significant progress, with very many having a school plan in place.