Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 96: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on reviewing the Education Act 1998 to allow student representatives to sit on school boards of management at second level, particularly in view of the recent controversy in Tullamore; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23230/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Section 27 of the Education Act 1998 provides that Boards of Management in second level schools shall facilitate and give all reasonable assistance to student councils. Student councils are established in the majority of post-primary schools. I believe very strongly that you cannot just teach students about rights and responsibilities in the CSPE class, that you also have to give them actual responsibilities in the place where they spend much of their day. I have stressed to teachers' groups the need to not only ensure that each school has a student council but also that councils are given a meaningful role in school decision-making.

The Act provides that Boards shall have procedures for the purposes of informing students of the activities of the school and to facilitate the involvement of students in the operation of the school, having regard to the age and experience of the students, in association with their parents and teachers. An active student council can be a most effective way to involve students in the affairs of the school, in cooperation with the board, parents and teachers. I have no plans to review the Act in this regard.