Tackling Educational Disadvantage – progress through schooling
Many children are not in a position to avail of the educational opportunities afforded to them, due to their situation of disadvantage which is often cross-generational.
A child going to school in a disadvantaged area of Dublin has a 30% chance of leaving primary school with a serious literacy problem. He/she has a 50% chance of doing the Leaving. It is 90% likely that that child will not go to a third-level institution. Compare that with the figures for children from Dublin’s more prosperous areas: just a 10% chance of leaving primary school with a literacy problem, the virtual certainty of sitting the Leaving Certificate and a 90% likelihood of going on to college.
To break this cycle of disadvantage, we need:
- Reduced class sizes in schools located in disadvantaged areas.
- Appropriate educational psychological services where needed. These must go beyond defining problems towards the provision of programmes which address problems that have been identified.
- Support for informal education projects in areas of disadvantage, e.g. after-school clubs/homework clubs, summer projects, etc.
- More home-school liaison services to encourage positive attitudes to education within families.
- Further investment in primary and secondary schooling in areas of particular disadvantage. Schemes such as school breakfast and lunch programmes are a necessary practical support to education which must be available wherever necessary. These must be provided in a manner and context which does not undermine already fragile parental roles.
- More liaison is needed between the social services and various facilities provided for and by schools in disadvantaged areas.
- Continued support for the School Completion programme.
- More schools should be included in the School Support Programe (SSP) under the DEIS action plan for educational inclusion
Youth and Sport – health through recreation
We frequently hear about the problems young people are experiencing regarding obesity and lack of fitness. Tackling this issue in our schools today will save us from having to do so in our hospitals tomorrow.
The benefits of sport are not confined to health. Sport promotes general well-being, develops good character and team spirit.
Education and Health policies must take account of this. We should:
- Dedicate more time in the school week to Physical Education.
- Offer a wide variety of activities to students such as gymnastics and athletics.
- Involve more female students in sporting activities.
- Make a high priority of including adequate gym space and play-space for students.
I would also support a programme of after-school activities for children to be funded by the Departments of Health, Education and Science and the Sports Council.
All this will require greater levels of funding for our schools – and not just in election years. We should also explore the reduction or removal of VAT on school expenses generally, but especially VAT paid on sporting equipment for educational purposes. We should explore the potential of links with the private corporate sector in promoting healthy living and activity programmes in schools and communities.