Seán Crowe
Ceist:250 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the progress of implementing the recommendations contained in the promoting anti-racism and interculturalism in education report. [13640/03]
Written Answers. - School Curriculum.
The new curricula at primary and post-primary level provide ample opportunity to extend students' awareness of their environment and the wider world, to learn about the lives of people in other countries, and of their contribution to art, history, music, drama, etc. particularly through the language, arts, religion, history and geography, music, business and home economics programmes, and the social education module of the leaving certificate applied. The social, personal and health education programmes at primary and post primary level, and the civic, social and political education programme at second level are designed to prepare students for participatory citizenship, to develop the skills of critical appraisal and decision-making based on human rights and social responsibilities, and to promote a respect for human dignity, tolerance for the values and beliefs of others, and a celebration of diversity. The format allows scope for teachers to deal with issues such as gender equity, racism and xenophobia, interculturalism and development education. All subjects can be taught from an interculturalism anti-racism perspective.
The recommendations in the report on promoting anti-racism and interculturalism centre on enhancing policies at national, organisational and institutional level; in promoting greater dialogue with interests and non governmental organisations; providing awareness and development programmes for staff; enhancing language tuition, translation, and support services; developing culturally appropriate materials; and increasing the focus on monitoring, research and evaluation.
Actions under way to support the strategy include: information for schools on the integration of asylum seekers and travellers; additional resources for schools to support the needs of students for whom English is not the mother tongue; resource packs for schools prepared by organisations such as the National Consultative Committee on Anti-Racism and Interculturalism; a video for second level schools highlighting excerpts from the "Mono" programme; materials and training for teachers through funding the work of Integrate Ireland Language Training and other bodies; development in progress by the NCCA of guidelines for primary and post primary teachers on how the existing curriculum can be mediated and adapted to reflect the emergence of an expanding multi-cultural society; and supports provided by the Reception and Integration Agency to assist in the integration of refugees and asylum seekers into schools.
Since the report was launched, modules in interculturalism have been developed and approved for use in the further education sector and work is nearing completion on a report on the next steps in implementing an FE strategy; support staff have been appointed in the Dublin vocational education committees to assist with the educational assessment and placement of unaccompanied minors; new initiatives for migrant groups have been developed under the back to education initiative; the number of adult non-nationals availing of literacy and language tuition through the VEC adult literacy service has increased to 3335; a report on addressing the literacy and language needs of adult asylum seekers has been launched, and training for staff has taken place in collaboration with the London language and literacy unit.
The implementation of the strategy will be progressed and strengthened on an ongoing basis as resources permit.