Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I was inspired listening to Mr. Proctor. I am deeply interested in education and I spoke on the subject of junior cycle reform in the Seanad this morning. Education is for everybody and every career path is equally valid. That is what we are moving towards here. There was an elitism in education but now, we value things like self-esteem and a path for life so that a person can start as an apprentice and end up being a doctor in one's subject. Integrated education is part of this process. I commend the work of Mr. Frith. Last year or the year before, we had a community audit in the South in a number of towns. I was struck by the number of people who wanted to retain the status quo. I ask the witnesses to comment because it is a big question for me as to why people wanted to retain the status quoin terms of the management and the control of schools. I am not criticising any of the bodies which manage schools. However, change is happening in other areas, such as the introduction of marriage equality and many other social changes, but in the area of education, it seems that parents are reluctant to change.

I was in Derry last summer when people were celebrating the fact that their son or daughter got into the school of choice by means of the 11-plus exam. They were booking holidays in Tenerife because it was a big celebration for all the family. I was also struck that one of the schools in Derry had stipulated that as well as academic achievement, a student had to be able to play a musical instrument. I do not know whether that is right and I suggest to Francie that he should discuss this with his Minister.