Seanad debates

Tuesday, 20 March 2007

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage

 

5:00 pm

Photo of Ann OrmondeAnn Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister. I am very pleased that this Minister is heading up the education position, knowing that she understands and would be the first to state that it is unacceptable that professionals such as herself, myself and Senator Ulick Burke would have to tolerate disruptive behaviour in the classroom. I believe the Minister has a very clear understanding of the matter.

We must take into account that society has changed over the last number of years, along with family structures. Naturally, these types of problems have escalated to the extent that there are schools that cannot cope with the significant disruptive behaviour existing in them.

This is a very important Bill, with section 29 of the 1998 Education Act being revisited to take into account the rights of disruptive students to learn, as well as taking into account that the majority in the classroom now have the right to be taught and learn. This is key to this area and a core issue.

The Minister has outlined that it will give effect to a key recommendation of the task force on student behaviour. It is only fair that the rights of the majority of good-willed students should not be grossly affected by individual students. That is the reason the Bill is so important.

This task force was set up in 2005 to deal with disruptive behaviour, with its brief to consider what strategies can now be employed to advise on best practice in fostering good behaviour in the school, creating a better environment for our students and a climate for teaching and learning through the Irish school system. Its recommendations were to ensure schools were better placed to deal with all the students, including those having difficulties.

I noted Senator Ulick Burke's comments on the lack of finance, but there is €8 million in this year's budget. He also indicated that he welcomed the new concept of the national behaviour support service, which is a very new idea. It is to be introduced into the classroom and we do not need to repeat the Minister's statement that 50 schools are being piloted to see how this would work. The back-up structures are in place, namely, home-school links, guidance counsellors, Youthreach services and remedial teachers.

There are teething problems with any new structure that is put in place to help students who cannot be contained in classrooms, but I welcome this new concept, in respect of which the National Educational Welfare Board will work to determine whether we can improve school retention levels without interfering in the learning of the majority of students. It is a good move. Will the Minister give more detail about how the teamwork will operate in the classroom structure? This service must be rolled out, as it can work if everyone works together. I see no difficulty in that regard.

There is a problem in the appeals system. I have received letters from the Irish Vocational Education Association stating the system is like a revolving door, that is, those who had been expelled or placed on long-term suspension are able to get back in many cases. I welcome the Minister's acknowledgement of the problems. The Bill is concerned with protecting those who cannot be contained in the system and preserving the normal level of teaching and learning in a school. The new appeals system will take into account these and other relevant factors.

The Minister referred to analysing the nature and extent of the student's behaviour, which would be difficult. I am interested in learning what was meant. I have no difficulty with the provision concerning the reasonableness of efforts made by the school to enable the student to participate in and benefit from education. One must be reasonable, that is, classroom teachers, graded teachers dealing with discipline problems, school principals and all of the educational partners, including the NEWB, must take into account every consideration. Everything must be done to try to contain the young student in the classroom and to have regard to the educational interest of the student. Whether the student could be allowed to stay in the classroom and to work with his or her peer group must be determined under these new arrangements. The safety and health of the teachers and students must also be taken into account.

If there is an appeal, I welcome that the board of management has a structured framework within which to work. Previously, the framework was loose, but there will now be a new procedure to facilitate both parties, namely, the school authority and the appellant. If we get this matter right, the process will become easy. Regarding a school's refusal to enrol a student in its all-Irish division, I welcome the extension of the provision. I also welcome that applications do not need to be entertained if they are frivolous, which many are.

A great deal of work was covered by the Minister's speech. Speaking as a teacher, all aspects of the situation have been taken into account. Many teachers are in the Chamber today and are ready to pounce. They have noted the points that were raised.

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