Out-of-hours schools plan key to education strategy

Plans to make school buildings available out of hours for afterschool care, homework clubs and other community activities form a key part of three-year education strategy being developed by Minister for Education Richard Bruton.

The blueprint, which is being drafted in consultation with education partners, is due to be finalised within the the first 100 days of the Government.

The question of how to make better use of school buildings during the evenings and summer months has long been an issue of debate within education circles.

Issues such as insurance, staffing and ownership have proved to be barriers in the past.

One option under consideration is to provide additional capitation funding which would be linked to the availability of afterschool care options, where demand exists.

The consultation document outlines eight key areas which include early years education, tackling disadvantage, diversity and choice in schools and meeting the skills needs of the future.

Entrepreneurial capacity

The promotion of creativity and entrepreneurial capacity in students is another key objective, along with meeting the needs of those with special needs.

The strategy is informed by the programme for government, which seeks to “advance the transformation of the education system” to help support the development of a strong economy and a fair and compassionate society.

Respondents are being asked to send in their submissions by June 8th.

Plans to foster greater creativity and entrepreneurial skills among students are likely to be welcomed by many campaigners and educationalists who say these attributes will be vital in the modern workplace.

The programme for government says that while the focus must remain on literacy and maths, new subjects should be introduced such as the arts, entrepreneurial education and mental health awareness.

It says transition year, in particular, could be used to prepare young people with key skills before they make the transition to higher education or work.

The Government has pledged to work with industry and colleges to open up new opportunities and programmes in transition year.

A new national strategy to develop competence in so-called Stem subjects – science, technology, engineering and maths – is also on the cards.

Review group

Prof Brian MacCraith, the chair of a review group on these subjects, has expressed concern that students at third level are increasingly unable to cope with courses which require competence in maths and require extra support in order to pass their exams.

The use of teachers in secondary schools without Stem qualifications to deliver the curriculum has also been a matter of concern.

The programme for government commits it to a new plan to identify and address skills gaps, as well as needs in high-demand sectors related to Stem subjects and information technology.

Mr Bruton is inviting hundreds of stakeholders to share their views on how to improve the wider education system and make children’s lives better.

“No area of the Government’s work is more vital to this mission than education,” he says, in a circular being emailed to more than 200 groups.