Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 October 2004
136 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Science if she intends adopting the mentoring concept as outlined in the report, How are Our Kids?, in view of the very serious problem of bullying in schools. [26148/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra145 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to a report, How are Our Kids?; and if she plans to factor the results of the survey into her programme of work, in particular in relation to the problem of bullying at school. [26145/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 145 together.
I am supportive of the concept of mentoring and consider that it can be of value in countering bullying at school level.
Individual school management authorities are responsible for implementing effective policies to counter bullying in schools. Each school is required to have in place a policy which includes specific measures to deal with bullying behaviour, within the framework of an overall school code of behaviour and discipline. Such a code, properly devised and implemented, can be the most influential measure in countering bullying behaviour in schools.
The managerial authority of each school, in developing its policy to counter bullying behaviour, must formulate the policy in co-operation with the school staff, both teaching and non-teaching, under the leadership of the principal, and in consultation with parents and pupils. In this way, the exercise of agreeing what is meant by bullying and the resultant development of school-based strategies for dealing with it are shared by all concerned. It is essential that all parties concerned have a clear understanding of the policy aims and content if the policy is to form the basis for developing effective school-based strategies for dealing with the problem.
The concept of mentoring may indeed form part of the schools policy but this is a matter for the managerial authority of each school to address.
