Ms Catherine Byrne:

-----and worked out with them the plan they wanted to do. That has been documented in some of the analysis in recent years. For many people in our society, it is a reality that as children they did not have a positive experience. Their first positive experience has been in prison. Personally, I believe that we give them time. If somebody has a difficulty or a challenge or has had negative learning experiences, it is important to have time with them. Sometimes they can be quite strong in their perceptions of what education should be. Therefore, as teachers we are led by the students. I teach maths. Some people say to me that they want to learn division. If that person wants to learn division, that is our goal. We as teachers do not have the right to say, “Well, hold on. You are supposed to do this course or this certificate”. It is led by the student. The impact of that on students is that they feel it is the first time the education system actually heard them and connected with them.