Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

475. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how she intends to ensure that the voices of students and young people will influence Department policy; what mechanisms are and will be put in place for such purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2952/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Children and young people have a right to have their voices heard and taken seriously in all matters that affect them. My department is committed to embedding a culture of participation of children and young people in policy development.

A student participation unit was established in my department in April 2023 to help my department to make sure that the voices of children and young people inform policy development across the department.

In May 2023, an expert group on student participation, chaired by Professor Laura Lundy, was established to advise my department on how best my department could progress its work in this area. The group reviewed existing structures, systems, processes, and practices in place across my department and identified any gaps in how the department meets its obligations in relation to student participation. This work was heavily informed by the views of 174 children and young people who participated in consultations and some of whom were members of the child advisory group and youth advisory group.

The expert group made five high-level recommendations which have been accepted in full by my department. The report of the expert group was published on 10 October 2024. On the same date, my department published its Student Participation Implementation Plan. This plan contains 50 actions to be implemented by end 2026. Some of the key actions my department has committed to implement are:

• a new training plan for department staff to involve children and young people in policy development
• publication of an annual report on student participation in policy development
• a student-friendly summary page in inspection reports on curriculum evaluations in primary schools and inspection reports on subject inspections in post-primary schools
• to establish child and youth advisory groups to support the work of the student participation unit
• to pilot a student participation in policy development showcase event for children and young people
• to raise awareness of the importance and benefits of children and young peoples’ participation in decision-making among students, parents, teachers, school leaders, school staff and boards of management
• to review and update the guidance to support the establishment of student councils in post-primary schools to ensure that they are representative. Guidance will also be developed for primary schools