Mr. Paul Rowe:

I was asked how student representatives on the boards of our second level schools work. I will explain how this operates. First, this is part of Educate Together's blueprint or guiding document for second level schools. It is to articulate the student voice as much as possible throughout every way the school operates and the way the curriculum is delivered. This is a question of articulating the discovery and exploratory learning. As part of that, the student councils are brought in to participate in selection processes for teachers, students have been involved in the selection process for the principals of our new schools and they are welcome and honoured participants in the boards of management. The difficulty we have is that there is no proper statutory basis for this participation.

For example, young people can sign themselves into hospital at the age of 16, irrespective of their parents' wishes. However, the legal status of minor finishes at age 18. That is why we would like that issue to be addressed properly in the charter. There should be proper legislative backing for that. I will answer the other questions in writing if the committee wishes.