Ms Kay O'Brien:

I thank Mr. Carney. I thank the joint committee for inviting us to appear before it to outline the role of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, NAPD, in the development of the arts in education programme during the past few years and offer our views on the arts programme in post-primary schools.

In 1987 there were six organisations in Ireland representing principals and deputy principals. In 1989 the idea of one organisation representing everybody took root very quickly and was received enthusiastically. In 1989 the NAPD was officially launched by the leader of the Fine Fáil Party, Deputy Micheál Martin. The organisation has gone from strength to strength. We have more than 1,000 members, principals and deputy principals, a 22-strong executive committee and a network of nine regional branches. The presidents represent all three sectors - voluntary secondary schools, ETB and further education and comprehensive and secondary schools. We have an annual conference which is usually attended by more than 500 delegates who are school leaders. I am delighted to say this year we heard a fantastic and passionate presentation on the arts in education by Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell. We have a very cordial and constructive relationship with the Department of Education and Skills. We also have consultative status with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and representation on a wide range of social and cultural organisations.

Since 2000 the NAPD has had an arts, culture and heritage sub-committee. It has worked towards the development of the arts and creativity in education ever since and helped to inform and support many arts initiatives in education. In the wake of the Benson report, The Place of the Arts in Irish Education, in 2000-01 the NAPD conducted a major survey of arts provision in second level schools. It was followed in 2001 by the publication of a policy paper, The Arts in Our Schools. The NAPD had a vision for a countrywide arts in education programme and in 2005 successfully lobbied the then Department of Education and Science and Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism to co-fund a programme entitled, Creative Engagement, in second level schools which was co-launched by the then Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin; the then Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Mr. John O Donoghue, and the then Arts Council chairperson, Ms Olive Braiden. It has since gone from strength to strength.

We appreciate the continued support of both Departments and the Heritage Council in our ongoing project work.

NAPD continued its work on arts in schools by working on the development of the artists-schools guidelines 2006 which were published by the Arts Council. In 2008 NAPD participated in the preparation and publication of Points of Alignment, an important policy document published by the Arts Council, which paved the way for the 2013 arts in education charter. NAPD wholeheartedly welcomed the arts in education charter and participated in a number of initiatives overseen by the charter high level implementation group, with Professor John Coolahan as chairperson, including the arts-rich school scheme and the Arts in Education portal. NAPD contributed to the development and launch of the Arts in Education portal and is a participant on its editorial board. NAPD supported and joined the effort to create Encountering the Arts Ireland Company Limited and has taken part in the development of the new junior certificate including short courses.

NAPD envisions an education system in which schools are energised through the arts and which liberate and enthuse young people through arts and culture. It envisions an education system in which all students have access and engagement in the arts; in which creativity is a core activity in the post-primary curriculum; and in which the arts is a priority with principals and deputy principals as instructional leaders.

The aims and objectives of NAPD are to gain recognition of the centrality of the arts in education within the formal curriculum and as a co-curricular activity. NAPD aims to work towards the establishment of a national strategy for the arts in post-primary education and through the implementation of the arts in education charter; to seek full Government support for our continued leadership in the schools in efforts to promote the centrality of creativity in education; to ensure NAPD representation on all bodies charged with the development of the arts in education; and to continue the development of the creative engagement project as a flagship arts in education programme in our schools.

Through its own initiatives over the past 18 years and with the support of the NAPD director and national executive, the NAPD arts and culture committee continues to advocate for the greater inclusion of the arts in education. The NAPD sees as essential the following institutions for the promotion and development of the arts: the Department of Education and Skills; the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht; the Heritage Council; the Arts Council; the high level implementation group of the arts in education charter; arts officers of the local authorities; teacher training departments in universities and colleges; teacher education centres; and education training boards. Dialogue and co-operation with organisations that share the same or similar objectives are also essential for building partnerships and promoting culture in our schools. These include the Poetry Ireland writers in schools scheme; the Arts in Education Portal committee; Encountering the Arts Ireland; Young Social Innovators; and also the national cultural institutions, including IMMA, the National Museum of Ireland, the National Gallery of Ireland, the national theatre and Ballet Ireland.

Two of the main objectives of NAPD are to provide a united voice on issues of common concern for school leaders and to endeavour to ensure school leaders are consulted on all relevant matters and, in particular, on new initiatives that impact on their role.