Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps he is taking to improve the standard of language education and competency for migrant pupils in the primary and post-primary sectors respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7757/09]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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In 2007/2008 some €120m was needed to provide for the English language support teachers in our primary and post-primary schools. Standards are not simply achieved by supplying teaching resources. I recognise that the quality of the supports that children receive and the inclusive atmosphere cultivated in schools are important factors influencing the quality of learning obtained by newcomer children. The Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Science is evaluating the effectiveness of provision of English as an additional language in a number of primary and post-primary schools. This evaluation is currently underway in a number of primary and post-primary schools and is designed to:

Evaluate the quality of teaching and learning of English as an additional language which students receive in mainstream education and in support contexts;

Establish the quality of whole-school planning and school self-review that is undertaken to include students in the school, and to review the extent to which this planning reflects the principles of inclusion and respect for cultural diversity;

Review the progress which these students are making in oral competency, literacy and numeracy;

Identify good practice with regard to EAL provision in schools and seek to disseminate this good practice generally;

Identify areas where the work of schools, teachers and the system of supports that the Department of Education and Science administers could be improved.

The data from the evaluations in the individual schools is currently being analysed and a national composite report is being prepared by the Inspectorate. This report will, I hope, provide valuable reflections and analysis about how schools and the Department of Education and Science can improve the quality of EAL provision. In addition, materials have been provided to schools to raise awareness of cultural diversity and to support all staff in schools in addressing this issue effectively. The Intercultural Guidelines prepared by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment help to ensure that both primary and post-primary schools are equipped to provide a welcoming, inclusive and supporting environment for newcomer children.

The assessment of the individual needs of pupils and the regular monitoring of the progress that they are making are key factors in ensuring that the school provides the most appropriate supports to the students. To assist schools in this work, the Department of Education and Science has supplied a language assessment kit for primary level and a post-primary kit has just recently been distributed to schools. The Department is supporting their use through training of teachers. Training is in place at primary level and in-service seminars are currently being delivered across the country. Training for post-primary English language support teachers commenced this January.

The Department of Education and Science recognises that we must monitor and review the educational experiences that are provided to newcomer students so that we can improve the quality and effectiveness of our provision and is, therefore, undertaking a range of research to consider the question of integration in schools. The ESRI will shortly finalise a research report on "Managing Diversity", looking at newcomer students in primary and post-primary schools. This research is based on case study interviews and responses to questionnaires from some 1,200 primary and post-primary schools. Ireland is also taking part in an OECD thematic review on migrant education, results from which are expected this autumn. Together with the other key participants in the study (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria and the Netherlands) the review is exploring what are the best education options for our children in an inclusive Ireland.

The Department of Education and Science is also conducting a value for money review of English as an Additional Language in primary and post-primary schools. The review is expected to be completed in autumn 2009. The Department has consulted extensively on the development of an intercultural education strategy which is to be finalised by the end of 2009. The research findings and the responses to the consultation process will provide the evidence based data required to prepare the strategy. This multi-pronged approach that is being taken will help to ensure that the standard of language education and competency for migrant students in the primary and the post-primary sectors respectively are continually evaluated and improved, within available budgetary resources.