Vol. 526 No. 6
380 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many secondary schools still operate an entrance exam system which is placing enormous strain on the school curriculum and on the revised curriculum which has an emphasis on arts or music and a broad range of subjects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27290/00]
I am not aware of any post-primary schools which operate entrance examinations for the purpose of awarding places to applicants in the order of their academic or intellectual ability.
The selection and enrolment of pupils in second level schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. As schools may not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. However, the policy of my Department in relation to enrolment to second level is that selection should not be based on pupils' academic ability.
In relation to the application of fair and objective entrance criteria for entry to second level schools, my Department has agreed with the three post-primary managerial associations that the selection of pupils for enrolment in second level schools should not be based on academic ability; each school should disclose its enrolment policy and selection procedures; the criteria used in selecting pupils for enrolment should be made clear to parents in order to allay fears of discrimination and the principle of the school working in and for the community it serves should be emphasised. For this reason, post-primary schools should cater, in the first instance, for children from their own communities and catchment areas.
Schools are advised to have regard to a range of criteria in forming their selection policy including priority to pupils from national schools in the area; enrolment on a first come, first served basis; random selection on the basis of age of applicants; and priority to brothers and sisters of pupils already enrolled in the school.
The delivery of a broad and balanced primary curriculum to cater for the development of the full potential of every child is an important principle in primary education provision. Such provision is necessary in order to prepare children to engage effectively with second level education and life long learning. This kind of provision is emphasised in the revised primary curriculum.
