Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for those insightful presentations. Even though there were many disturbing elements, it was good to hear the positive actions under way because they can be built on. I acknowledge the long-term role of Irish missionaries in setting up and establishing the importance of education. That continues through their efforts and those of our very reputable NGOs working in this area. It is great to see the emphasis on quality education. I say that because so much of the focus of the SDGs was on numbers and reaching numbers in enrolment, participation and completion.

I have been very fortunate to visit schools in a number of African countries. As a former teacher, I have come out asking myself what the kids are doing there apart from getting their daily meal. It seems that that is really the only benefit they get. With the best will in the world, nothing else was happening at the schools I visited. As a result, it is great to see that quality education is key here. The question comes down to the fact that to have quality education, one must have qualified teachers who know what they are doing. Do any of our guests see any improvement in the provision of properly certified teacher education? Our training colleges are very good. I do not know whether there are connections with them that could be pursued. That is the first matter.

This is about changing attitudes. The best example of this came from one of our former ambassadors, Sinead Walsh, who worked with the President of Sierra Leone, offside and out of the public eye, to get him to agree to a project to educate pregnant girls and girls who have babies. Perhaps we could get somebody in authority who could make the difference to agree to a particular form of education. Sadly, these girls cannot sit state exams, but at least they are in school and getting an education. I do not know whether there are any more such examples. I think what Sr. Bridget has done is one example. Misean Cara must have some great negotiating skills to get the men to sign those commitment forms. There are probably lessons to be learned there. Those are the kinds of things one builds up from.

The other matter I wish to raise relates to children with disabilities. We saw some really good examples in this regard. I think Sr. Mary was in Sierra Leone with deaf children. Others were with children with leprosy and Down's syndrome and albino children, who have such a horrific time in Africa. Another thing that strikes me - I do not know what our guests think about this - is that in some countries one sees ads for the school here, there and somewhere else and what they are offering but, again, unless there is state-sponsored quality education, it is very much hit-and-miss. What Ms Pender said about private education was interesting. I do not think Ireland can talk on that because we are still very supportive of divisions in education in the form of private education.

I thank our guests. It has been very good having them here.