Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
309. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are dedicated advocates for DEIS schools, students with disabilities and experts in inclusive assessment and education in the advisory group for contingency planning for State examinations 2020; and if not, if he will ensure representation of such advocates. [9506/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of planning for the State examinations, I established an advisory group of stakeholders, including representatives of students, parents, teachers, the management and leadership of schools, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the State Examinations Commission, and officials of my Department, including the National Educational Psychological Service. A representative of the Higher Education Authority also attends all meetings of the Advisory Group as an observer.
One of the terms of reference for the Group is to minimise, as far as possible, the particular impact that school closures have had on the learning and examination performances of vulnerable groups of students. These include students from disadvantaged backgrounds (including students in homelessness or emergency accommodation, students in refugee/asylum seeker accommodation), students for whom remote learning has not worked well, and students with special educational needs.
Meeting documentation and agreed minutes of meetings are published on my Department’s website.
I have met separately with representatives of AsIAm, Inclusion Ireland, Down Syndrome Ireland and the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education, to discuss the impact of school closure on students with special education needs. I also met with the Ombudsman for Children to discuss a variety of issues, such as continuity of learning for children with special educational needs and supports for disadvantaged learners.
I am looking at what potential there might be for the running of existing programmes supporting children at greatest risk of educational disadvantage during the summer. My Department is working closely with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Tusla on this.
