Some schools are using "subtle practices" to prevent children such as those with special needs or from the Traveller community from enrolling, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin acknowledged today.
Ms Hanafin told the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) annual conference in Co Wexford that her department had conducted an audit of enrolment policies and found some schools were not fully inclusive.
"While the results do not point to a nationwide problem, there are certain geographical pockets where, within a cluster of schools, the evidence would point to certain schools assuming a greater or lesser share of the responsibility for meeting the full range of community needs," Ms Hanafin said.
"Certain subtle practices by individual schools can have the effect of discouraging particular groups - such as children with special needs - from applying for school places." Traveller and foreign children were also affected by the practise.
She said schools must make parents more aware of their rights as a means of preventing their children being unfairly denied a place of their choice. But she has not published the findings of the audit of around 1,900 primary and secondary schools which was started two years ago.
She also wanted consultation with education partners on:
- The effectiveness of the current system of appealing against non-enrolment;
- The practices of retaining pre-enrolment waiting lists of several years or favouring children of past-pupils;
- The potential for improved co-operation between schools in a given area with a view to meeting the full needs of the community.
The issue was raised at conference on Monday by TUI assistant general secretary John Mac Gabhann, who said many of the schools responsible are fee-paying.
Speaking at conference for secondary and higher level teachers today, TUI president Tim O’Meara accused the minister of failing to tackle inequality in the school system.
He said there should be a review of funding allocated to fee paying and non-fee paying schools to establish if public money was ensuring that all students were being treated equally irrespective of economic status.
"Schools which operate inclusive policies are losing out because of an over concentration of students who require additional supports. This has the potential to undermine the viability of these schools ... in contrast schools which operate selective policies and show contempt for their social and legal responsibilities continue to benefit from public funds," he said.
Members voted yesterday in favour of industrial action over what they say is a failure to support teachers trying to cope with class room indiscipline.
Ms Hanafin said in her speech today that the Behavioural Support Service developed on a pilot basis to counter the problem would be further extended but Mr O’Meara said the measures were "doing nothing to stem the flow".
Some schools and classrooms "have become living nightmares for both students and teachers", he said.
He also welcomed the appointment of extra educational psychologists but said more were needed.