Written answers

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Covid-19 Pandemic

Photo of Kathleen FunchionKathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

545. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the provision of education is considered an essential service. [14845/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can assure that the Deputy that I am acutely aware of the essential role that education can play as a means of improving the lives of children and young people in Ireland.  I have seen how the work of teachers and schools has the capacity to transform life outcomes for children and young people for the better. 

The widespread recognition of the importance of education for our children and young people was reflected in the fact that, while it was not possible on public health grounds related to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic to have children travelling to and from school and congregating in school settings earlier this year, my Department worked with stakeholders to protect the continuity of teaching and learning in the system.  My Department produced a suite of guidance documents for school authorities, teachers and parents, giving guidance on how online teaching and learning could operate to ensure that children could continue to learn.  The documents are available on my Department’s website. 

Since my appointment as Minister for Education, I have continued to work with my officials and with stakeholders in the sector to ensure that schools and other centres of learning will be able to open in the Autumn, in a way that is safe but that also ensures that the vital teaching and learning that goes on in our schools on a daily basis can continue in the interests of our learners. 

Photo of Kathleen FunchionKathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

546. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to conduct research to ascertain the impact school closures have had on children and their families. [14846/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Since schools closed in March 2020, a number of pieces of research on the experience of distance learning in schools have been carried out involving the Department’s Inspectorate, the National Parents’ Councils, school management and principals’ organisations and research bodies such as the Economic Social and Research Institute (ESRI), Maynooth University and Trinity College Dublin. This research has included surveys of school principals and parents as well as engagement with students. The research indicates that the experience of distance learning varied widely for students and was strongly dependent on factors such as access to devices and adequate broadband coverage.  Students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and students with special educational needs  appear to  have been most affected by the shift to distance learning.  This replicates the experience in other countries worldwide where the closure of schools due to Covid-19 has greatly interrupted students’ learning in general and particularly that of the most vulnerable students. A detailed analysis of the national and international research that has been published and other available data is underway within my Department and will inform guidance from the Department on the full re-opening of schools.

The key focus now is getting all schools to re-open from the beginning of September and to help students settle back into school and make progress in their learning with as much ease as possible. I am conscious of the need to avoid placing any additional burden on schools at this time, including additional work or disruption to learning that could arise from conducting further research surveys or testing in schools.

I am conscious, of course, of the need to monitor the successes that are achieved and challenges that will arise as schools resume working, so that policy, guidance and practical supports are adjusted as necessary. Circulars have issued to schools in late June, detailing how my Department's Inspectorate will be engaging with schools once they re-open: inspectors will be focussed on providing advisory and support sessions or visits for schools to assit in the resumption of schooling, and information arising from these engagements will be systematically analysed to provide feedback to my Department. This information and analyses will inform the provision of any further guidance and supports.

Photo of Kathleen FunchionKathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

547. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if standardised testing will be mandatory for schools in September 2020 to ascertain the impact of school closures on educational attainment. [14847/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department advised schools of its decision to cancel Standardised Testing for primary schools for the 2019/2020 school year in April of this year. The decision was taken at the time when there was uncertainty as to whether the schools would reopen again in the 2019/2020 school year.

The priority of my Department at the time was to support the learning and wellbeing of all our learners and this has not changed.  On return to school the focus for teachers and the whole school community will be on settling the children and returning to normality in the classroom without the added pressure of having to undertake standardised tests. It is not envisaged by my Department that standardised tests of reading and Mathematics will be administered on the return to school.

I would note that Standardised Tests are but only one of a number of assessment tools that can be used to inform teaching and learning in primary schools.  Consideration by teachers of the different assessment forms they might take to assess their pupils’ learning without placing any stress or pressure on the pupil to include teacher observation, questioning, tasks and pupil-teacher conferencing should be considered. 

My Department will issue Return to School curriculum guidance in the coming weeks.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.