Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Feb 2003

Vol. 562 No. 3

Written Answers - School Inspections.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

87 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he intends to take to address the serious deficiencies in 50 schools identified in the recent report, Fifty School Reports: What Inspectors Say; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5831/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

Fifty School Reports: What Inspectors Say is a composite report based on an analysis of the inspectorate's findings in 50 of the 326 primary schools inspected during the 2001-02 school year. It is the first report of its type at primary level, providing a collation of the findings from a number of school reports on aspects such as the management and organisation of schools, including accommodation and resources, and teaching and learning. It is designed to stimulate debate on the quality of educational provision in primary schools.

The report does not claim to be comprehensive but provides a snapshot of educational provision in primary schools. Nevertheless, it identifies key issues relating to educational provision which impact on the quality of educational experiences of pupils in primary schools. In this respect, it highlights great strengths and identifies significant, rather than serious, deficiencies.

Arising from the report, various actions are being taken. Those involved with the school development planning initiative and the primary curriculum support programme – services which support schools in the implementation of curriculum, assessment and planning – are being asked to consider the report's findings and to factor these into the in-career development programmes which they organise at national level. A Department publication, Looking at Our School: Themes for Use in School Self-Evaluation, will shortly issue to all schools. This document will promote self-evaluation by schools as an element of school development planning and school improvement. In particular, it will assist schools in focusing on priorities for development at individual school level, taking account of deficiencies identified during the evaluation.

Furthermore, the report's findings will be examined by the various administrative sections of my Department, with a view to considering the implications for the range of supports and services offered to schools. The report has already been circulated to all primary schools for consideration and action in the processes of planning, co-ordination, review and development across the range of school management, organisational and curricular activities.

Question No. 88 answered with Question No. 50.