Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 2 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Disadvantaged Status.

Mr. Neville:

Thank you for the opportunity to raise this issue. I did raise it for the two weeks before Easter but it could not be facilitated then.

The situation in regard to the provision of primary education at St. Joseph's and St. Anne's schools in Rathkeale is very serious. The constitutional rights of the children to a full education are being denied. Pupils in these schools are being disadvantaged because of their unique social circumstances. Rathkeale town has the highest population of Travellers of any town in Ireland. Up to 45% of the population are Travellers. While there are some strains and difficulties, the settled community and the travelling community who live in the area have a high level of cultural understanding between them. The situation in Rathkeale is unique and unprecedented. We have been trying for years to have this recognised and the situation given assistance by State bodies. The town's difficulties have been relatively ignored.

I am deeply concerned with the situation prevailing in both schools. It is leading to an unacceptable climate and creating difficulties in imparting of knowledge by the teachers and acquiring of knowledge by the pupils. I stress that the national policy with regard to Traveller integration in schools is not an issue for the people of Rathkeale. It is the application of this in the special, unique and unprecedented circumstances that apply to Rathkeale town that is involved. The policy has a severely damaging and disastrous effect on the education system in the town. The application of age appropriate placement for all Travellers regardless of academic achievement is inherently wrong. This is because of the number of transient Traveller children presenting themselves for education. It is not appropriate for the children who are in constant attendance or for those who are in occasional attendance at the schools. It restricts both groups in these schools. Teachers have stated that in over 50% of classes where there are occasional attenders at different levels of ability, mainstream pupils suffer because the teachers do not have the time to help those with difficulties.

Putting occasional students into age appropriate classes is unacceptable. What is the point in putting children who have no literacy or numeracy skills into fourth, fifth or sixth classes? Some pupils in these classes range from those learning the alphabet to those struggling with low second class textbooks. It is impossible for either mainstream pupils or the occasional transient pupils to benefit educationally. I, with the board of management of the schools, am extremely concerned about some pupil behaviour in the schools, especially St. Joseph's boys' school. This to a large extent results from the difficulty created because of the educational system in the schools which cannot cater for the needs of the children. The principle is policing rather than supervising. Rows have taken place in classrooms. The Garda have needed to visit because of the level of disruption and concern over pupils' safety. The two groups – mainstream and occasional/transient – complete school at different times because of concern for pupil safety. Games and most extra curricular activities have been abandoned.

The Department of Education and Science must terminate the age appropriate placement of the transient Traveller pupils. It is restricting the development of the mainstream pupils and severely damaging the self-esteem and educational development of these pupils who are in classes beyond their ability. This frustration expresses itself in poor behaviour by the children concerned.

All pupils who enrol in the school after 30 September each year must have special classes with intensive education to bring them to the level to attend the mainstream classes. Adequate classroom assistants must be made available urgently to ensure proper behaviour. I urge the Minister of State, who made a statement yesterday, to do this. Legal action will be taken against the Department of Education and Science because of the inadequate education for both the mainstream and the transient pupils. Parents feel discriminated against and that there is no hope for their children completing their early academic study.

There may be a withdrawal of pupils for the sake of their education by parents, most of whom attended schools in their own time in Rathkeale. The parents must not be placed in the position of seeking to send their children to schools in other areas. This would be disastrous. The mainstream pupils include members of the Travelling community whose parents are concerned about the school's regime. This is the Traveller community which is not transient and sometimes return for the sake of their children's education. They are as concerned as the other parents.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Mr. O'Dea):

I am glad the Deputy has given me the opportunity of outlining to the House our Department's current position regarding this matter. I am aware of the complex situation existing in the schools at Rathkeale and the Minister for Education and Science is committed to ensuring that an education of the highest standard is available for all pupils in these schools.

Age appropriate placement applies to all children. It is the Government's policy that all children, including Traveller children, participate in mainstream education in age appropriate classes and in an integrated setting. Pupils in all classrooms learn and progress at different rates, and the days in which less advanced or "weaker" pupils were repeatedly held back is long gone. The practice often demoralised children and had a serious effect on their self-esteem. The primary school curriculum is designed so that the needs of children of different abilities can be met in the classroom. Training courses for teachers emphasise the use of group learning and other techniques to respond to varying learning needs. This approach has been a core principle of the primary curriculum for many years and is re-emphasised in the revised primary curriculum.

Resource teachers for Travellers in the Rathkeale schools, as in other schools, are deployed in such a way as to ensure that Traveller children receive any learning or other support required according to their educational needs. This can involve the resource teacher working in conjunction with the class teacher in the classroom or withdrawing Traveller children for additional learning support, as required. The nature and duration of support provided during withdrawal to resource teachers is determined in the light of the needs of the individual children as identified by the class teacher, the resource teacher, the visiting teacher for Travellers and the inspectors from our Department.

Education should recognise and celebrate the culture and background of all pupils. The integration of Traveller and settled pupils in school is an important strategy for achieving this objective. It enables pupils to learn about, respect and appreciate diversity and can, in this way, contribute to the achievement of a tolerant and inclusive society. These are crucial goals that require sustained commitment by all involved – parents, pupil, teachers, management, the local community and the personnel of the Department of Education and Science.

The Minister ensured that our Department works closely with the schools and parents in Rathkeale to achieve high quality teaching and learning for all the pupils. He ensured that very considerable extra resources have already been given to the schools, including extra teachers, enhanced capitation grants, visiting teachers for Travellers (who work with the families of Travellers and the staffs of schools), as well as intensive support from the inspectorate and the school development planning service.

I acknowledge the excellent work which is already ongoing in the schools. I congratulate and thank the school staffs, the members of the boards of management, parents, visiting teachers for Travellers, inspectors from our Department, and the school development planning facilitators who are working intensely to ensure that an inclusive and high quality education is available for all the pupils.

Officials and inspectors from our Department were engaged in dialogue with the parents, patron, boards of management, principals, teachers and parents' council. They agreed to put in place an extensive process of review and analysis of the practices and methods being employed in the school. That process is now under way. Teachers, inspectors and facilitators from the school development planning initiative are working to identify what needs to be done to address the concerns of parents and to ensure a high quality inclusive education for all pupils. The process of review will consider the utilisation of current resources for Traveller education in Rathkeale and, indeed, whether further resources and supports are required to take matters forward.

I assure the parents of Rathkeale that this process of review will be open and flexible, and will involve consultation with parents of all the children. The views and concerns of parents will form an integral part of the action plan. The draft will be completed by mid-May and will also be subject to periodic review. I urge all to work constructively together for the success of the process. This will ensure that an excellent standard of education is provided for all pupils and the contri butions of children from all backgrounds are respected and valued.