Wellbeing
We were privileged in that Betty McLaughlin the President of the Institute of Guidance counsellors and a great advocate of the work of the NPCpp addressed our conference on the subject of Wellbeing which is of central importance to a child ' s educational success and overall happiness .
She explained the subject of Wellbeing encompasses every aspect of a child ’ s development as they grow in confidence and learn to take their place in society .
The subject of Wellbeing includes Physical education ; Civic Social and Political Education ; Social , Personal & Health Education ( including Relationship and Sexuality Education ) and Guidance It is so central to the education attainment of children that eventually it is anticipated it will take six forty minute classes per week to imbed the learning .
Parent Student Charter
Education Minister Mr . Richard Bruton and Mr . Paul Mooney President of NPCpp
Minister Mr Richard Bruton ’ s by addressing our conference honoured and demonstrated recognition of the importance of parents in the education of our children .
We are pleased and appreciative that the Minister found time to attend our conference during a particularly busy schedule occupied also by a trip to China and the ongoing ASTI dispute
He spoke of two important issues . He spoke about his plan to make the Education system in Ireland the best in Europe and he also spoke about bring to fruition a
Parent / Student charter
One reason the Minister outlined for putting forward a Parent Student charter is the desire to develop and harness more efficiently , in tandem with other actions , the potential benefits of the Parent and Student voice to ensure the Irish education system will indeed be the best in Europe .
It has been noted and acknowledged by experts in education from Harvard to Clonard , that parents play the most important role in the education of their children and are responsible for imparting 85 % of the learning to their children . A sentiment with which the Minister is in agreement . It follows parents must be given proper recognition for the role they occupy in the education process .
The Parents / Student charter is a vital step along the road to that recognition . The introduction of a Parent charter will happen in two stages ; in the first stage already set in motion is the introduction to the Dáil a Heads of a bill to allow for a Parent and Student charter in the Education act and is designed to replace Section 38 of the Education Act .
Section 38 of the Education Act deals with the processing of complaints concerning teachers and it sets out how complaints against teachers are to be handled locally . However , since Section 38 has never been enacted and probably never will , the complaints procedure open to parents at non- ETB school level have been conducted purely on a voluntary level , which is to say the least most unsatisfactory .
It is envisioned that the Parent Charter will contain guidelines on the best way of handling complaints and other issues to be decided locally and the process would be subject to continuous assessment through the Whole School Evaluation process . The intention is to ensure issues are handled in a preventative fashion instead of in a legalistic and combative way thus nipping problems that arise in the bud before they become set legalistic pieces .
This is just one aspect of a Parent Student Charter . The Minister has framed the Bill so that guidelines on the way forward can be proposed / agreed post the legislation is passed into law in consultation with Parents through the NPCpp the Minister and our partners in education . There will be much more .
The minister has promised that there will be adequate consultation between parents and the department of Education and Skills and other stakeholders in the development of these guidelines .
Mr Martin Hanevy Assistant Secretary General to the department of Education and Skills in his presentation to the conference outlined in greater detail how the parent charter will work in practice and how the guidelines will as expected be viewed as integral part of the whole school evaluation system .
A video copy of the minister ’ s speech and that of the Assistant Secretary General from the Dept . of Education and Skills is available from the National parents Council post primary to parent associations on request .
National Parents Council post primary
Unit 6 / 7 Building 125 OMNI Park Shopping Centre Santry Dublin 01 830 27 40 E : manager @ npcpp . ie