Written Answers. - Educational Disadvantage.
Michael Bell
Ceist:
63
Mr. Bell
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if, in light of the mission statement of the targeting educational disadvantage project to enable those experiencing educational disadvantage to reach their full potential and in view of the fact that one of the ways to effect change is to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio, he will report on the measures he is putting in place to reduce the pupil teacher ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16114/00]
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:
162
Ms Shortall
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if, in light of the mission statement of the targeting educational disadvantage project to enable those experiencing educational disadvantage to reach their full potential in view of the fact one of the most effective ways to effect change is to reduce the pupil teacher ratio, he will report on the measures his department is putting in place to reduce the pupil teacher ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16300/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 162 together.
I am currently implementing a £194 million three-year multi-sectoral programme to offset educational disadvantage that will provide specific supports for early education, primary, post-primary and third levels of the formal system as well as life-long and continuing education. The supports will target people at risk of, or who are experiencing educational disadvantage. The supports will also be provided to those with poor levels of literacy skills as well as people with disabilities.
The current disadvantaged areas scheme at primary level is inflexible and does not take account of different levels of need. For this reason, although the scheme encompasses 16% of all primary school pupils, it is not necessarily an effective mechanism for assisting those most in need.
The new programme involves a comprehensive survey of all primary schools to assess the level of concentration in each school of pupils who have background characteristics that are associated with educational disadvantage and early school leaving. The Educational Research Centre recently issued a comprehensive questionnaire to all primary schools. Work on the analysis of the responses from schools is nearing completion and the results will allow for an accurate identification of levels of disadvantage in every school.
I intend allocating additional resources next September to selected primary schools that have the highest concentrations of young people at risk of educational disadvantage. Differing levels of interventions will include extra teacher support and/or extra funding which will be allocated to selected schools and will reflect the levels of need identified. Also, within this new approach, schools that are designated as serving areas of disadvantage will retain the supports they already have and may be eligible for additional help.
Over £25 million will be made available to this new scheme at primary level in the next three years.
I expect to make a further announcement in relation to this matter in the near future.
The Deputy will be aware that an additional 225 posts were allocated to second level schools for the current school year. Arising from the creation of these posts, all schools in the free education scheme have an entitlement to an ex-quota allocation in respect of remedial education and all designated disadvantaged schools have been invited to participate in the home/school/ community liaison scheme this year.
The Deputy will also be aware that an additional 1,000 teaching posts will be created at second level in the 2000-01 school year. Up to 150 of the additional posts are being allocated to facilitate the expansion of participation in the leaving certificate applied and junior certificate school programme. These programmes have proved most successful since their introduction providing, as they do, broader curriculum choice for pupils.
The new measures provide for an increase in the teacher allocation to schools participating in the programmes. In the case of the leaving certificate applied, the additional teacher allocation in respect of the first group of pupils will be increased from 0.25 of a post to 0.5 of a post and each additional group will qualify for 0.25 of a post as heretofore.
It is intended that the junior certificate school programme will be made available in an additional 100 second level schools over the next few years and this will be encouraged by an improved teacher allocation for this programme.
The actual pupil teacher ratio at second level has been reduced significantly in recent years. A proportion of the new posts is being provided to facilitate the reduction from 19:1 to 18:1 in the pupil teacher ratio for appointment purposes at second level. The creation of the additional posts, combined with an anticipated fall in enrolments, will result in a further reduction in the actual pupil teacher ratio in the sector.
