Ms Emer Neville:

The decolonisation of education is very important. Looking at our history curriculum, for example, it is all men. There are approximately two women, and they are Rosa Parks and Countess Markievicz. They were two amazing women but they were not the only two women in history across the world. There are others, including Bernadette Devlin. There are many really inspiring people about whom we should be learning but we are not. It is a completely male-centred curriculum and it is the same across the board. It is important we recognise it in the review of all these curricula. There is a recommendation on encouraging curriculum review with an emphasis on gender equality and diversity, learning about more people of colour and LGBTQ Irish history. We have such a wide history and we learn nothing about it. It is really important this is all incorporated. That will play a part in countering toxic masculinity because we will open to different views and diverse histories etc. Not only would it stop toxic masculinity but it will help nurture a more diverse classroom and education, which is very important.

The curriculum and the school system is currently built against women. We cannot even cycle to school because the board of management has control over what we wear. No matter how much we appeal against that, the board can just turn around and just say "No". It is not just a matter for women; it is also relevant for non-binary and trans students. They are being forced into wearing these uniforms they either do not identify with or are just not comfortable wearing. That was particularly evident this year, when we saw windows in classrooms being opened. People were freezing and nothing could be done about it. There must be some sort of legislation to stop that.

Uniforms should not be confined by gender. If a young boy wants to wear a skirt to school, why should we stop that? If a young woman wants to wear pants, who are we to control what they wear? I understand the arguments for uniforms, but if we are going to keep the uniform system, we must ensure it is diverse and there are options. It will make for a better environment for students to be in. If I refer to the workplace again, one would not be forced to wear a skirt in a place of work and people have the option to wear pants. If we really want the school system to prepare students for the workplace, we need to have all aspects of that covered, including the way students present themselves in school as well.