Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2006
133 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will extend remedial programmes aimed at improving literacy for boys to the area of maths for girls schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39900/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that, in September 2005 my Department introduced a new system of teacher allocation to all mainstream primary schools to cater for pupils with higher incidence special educational needs, that is, pupils with borderline mild and mild general learning disability and specific learning disability, including those with difficulties in maths.
It is a matter for the individual school to use its professional judgement to identify pupils with high incidence special education and learning support needs that will receive this support and to use the resources available to the school to intervene at the appropriate level with such pupils. My Department issued a comprehensive circular, SP ED 02/05 to schools which provides guidelines on the manner in which they should use the resources that have been allocated to them to best effect. The circular contains advice on how best to meet the needs of pupils with difficulties in either reading or mathematics, irrespective of gender. It is anticipated that a review of the general allocation model will be undertaken after three years of operation and I have no plans to alter the system in advance of the review.
