Hanafin to proceed with school reports plan

Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said today she would press ahead with the plan to publish school inspection reports on her department's website despite the Irish National Teachers' Organisation's decision not to co-operate.

Ms Hanafin insisted there was no way the publication of reports would give rise to school league tables as suggested by the INTO.

She said there will be no grading of schools or naming of teachers in the reports, which will be published in June.

Ms Hanafin said the schools would also be given an opportunity to appeal the information contained in the report and would have the right to publish their responses. She said parents were entitled to information about what was going on in schools.

Earlier, the INTO said its members were not convinced by assurances from the Department of Education that they will not be identified in school inspection reports especially in the case of smaller schools with only a few teachers.

Yesterday the union voted not to co-operate with the inspections until its concerns were addressed.

The union's general secretary, John Carr, said although his members were not against school inspection reports in principle, the proposed system did not have adequate safeguards.

Speaking on RTÉ today, Mr Carr said there was no procedure to redress references that could be "unfair, defamatory or untrue". He claimed the Minister for Education had been quick to announce the publication of these reports and slow to ensure safeguards were in place.

Mr Carr said there was also a groundswell of anger developing against the tone and direction of inspections. "Some members feel the inspectors are interrogating rather than inspecting," he said.

Last night Ms Hanafin said that non-co-operation by the INTO would be a breach of the partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress. The INTO's decision could see payments of up to €1,200 - due under the agreement - withheld.