IPPN

Published: 24 September 2008

Irish Independent

By John Walshe Education Editor

THE hijab is in -- but the burqa is out under new policy rules for uniforms in schools. They were drawn up following controversy over the wearing of the hijab, a square of fabric, folded into a triangle, placed over the head and fastened under the chin.

Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe and Integration Minister Conor Lenihan jointly issued agreement recommendations which were drawn up following consultations and a review of the legal position in Ireland.

They agreed that the current system, whereby schools decide their uniform policy at a local level, is reasonable, works and should be maintained.

"In this context, no school uniform policy should act in such a way that it, in effect, excludes students of a particular religious background from seeking enrolment or continuing their enrolment in a school. However, this statement does not recommend the wearing of clothing in the classroom which obscures a facial view and creates an artificial barrier between pupil and teacher. Such clothing hinders proper communication."

Minister O'Keeffe said this meant the burqa could not be used as teachers could not see the full range of facial expressions of the students. The burqa covers the entire body and has a grille over the face. He was not aware of any cases where students sought to wear the burqa in Irish schools.

It is believed that the niqab is also unacceptable for the same reasons -- the niqab is a veil that covers the face but has a space cut out for the eyes.

The Irish Hijab Campaign has said it welcomed the recommendations although it would have liked to have seen more explicit legislation to protect the hijab.

The group said it was concerned with what it called the less than favourable statement regarding niqab or the wearing of a cloth over the face. It said the niqab was not currently an issue in State schools but it was concerned that highlighting the niqab could only further "objectify an already marginalised group".

The agreed ministerial statement said that schools, when drawing up uniform policy, should consult widely in the school community. They should take note of the obligations placed on them by the Equal Status Acts before setting down a school uniform policy.

They should also be mindful of the Education Act, 1998 which obliges them to have "respect for the diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life in society".

Teachers' unions welcomed the guidelines but the Irish Council for Civil Liberties said it was disappointed.

"This would appear to be a policy not to have a policy" said council director Mark Kelly.

"Thanks to the good sense of school principals, reason has prevailed and no child has been excluded from school on the basis of their religious dress. However, there is a responsibility on the State to ensure that decisions on such a sensitive issue are taken on a firm, lawful basis, and in a consistent way," he said.

"We need to bear in mind that our existing equality laws permit discrimination in order to maintain the religious "ethos" of a school.

"In the absence of a nationally-agreed and enforceable policy, there remains a danger that individual principals could interpret this to permit them to exclude a child for wearing religious dress, such as the hijab."

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Published: 23 September 2008

Irish Examiner

One of the country's leading rights groups today accused two senior Government ministers of dodging responsibility on whether to allow school pupils to wear the hijab or other religious dress in class.

The Department of Education claim uniform policy should continue to be a matter for schools and must not act to exclude children from particular religious backgrounds.

But the guidelines, drawn up by Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe and Integration Minister Conor Lenihan, do not recommend that clothing which obscures the face and acts as an "artificial barrier between pupil and teacher" be worn in class.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) said it was disappointed the State was not living up to its responsibility to provide education in a non-discriminatory way by leaving the decision up to school principals.

Mark Kelly, ICCL director, said: "This would appear to be a policy not to have a policy," he said.

"Thanks to the good sense of school principals, reason has prevailed and no child has been excluded from school on the basis of their religious dress.

"However, there is a responsibility on the State to ensure that decisions on such a sensitive issue are taken on a firm lawful basis, and in a consistent way."

In May the principal of Gorey Community School, one of the largest secondary schools in the State, called for Government guidelines on uniform after a Muslim couple asked that their daughter be allowed to wear the hijab.

The Department of Education refused to offer advice to the school and principal Nicholas Sweetman said an official direction would clarify the issue for schools and Muslim parents.

But in June Fine Gael's education spokesman Brian Hayes and Labour counterpart Ruairi Quinn said they opposed the wearing of the headscarf.

The guidelines states the current system in which schools decide their own policy is reasonable, works and should be maintained.

While it states no uniform policy should exclude students from a particular religious background, it does not recommend the "wearing of clothing in the classroom which obscures a facial view and creates an artificial barrier between pupil and teacher."

Schools should also consult with the community and be mindful of obligations placed on them by the Equal Status Acts.

Mr O'Keeffe said: "While 92% of schools in the country are under the patronage of one religion, it is clear that this fact has not operated to exclude pupils of different religions from these schools or from schools operating under other patronage arrangements.

"It seems clear that, where schools have permitted the wearing of the hijab in a colour similar to the school uniform, no problems have been encountered."

But Mr Kelly warned existing equality laws permit discrimination in order to maintain the religious "ethos" of a school.

He added: "In the absence of a nationally-agreed and enforceable policy, there remains a danger that individual principals could interpret this to permit them to exclude a child for wearing religious dress, such as the hijab.

"The ministers should live up to their responsibility to close this loophole" he added.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) welcomed the move and said it was better for the Government to issue recommendations rather than a prescriptive policy.

John White, ASTI assistant secretary, said: "This recommendation recognises that every school is a unique community of students, teachers and parents, and recognising second-level schools have been tremendously successful in welcoming students from diverse backgrounds into our schools.

"Irish second-level schools are committed to the social project of integration.

"It is vital that schools are supported in developing policies which promote openness and inclusiveness in their communities."

The Immigrant council of Ireland also welcomed the legislation and called for schools to continue to respect the diversity of the country's communities.

A spokeswoman added: "However, we also acknowledge that there are issues such as health and safety and the need for teachers and students to be able to effectively communicate which are legitimate and need to be taken into account.

"The proof of the pudding of this policy will be if problems arise in individual schools and how any problems are dealt with.

"Effective communication and mutual respect will be crucial in dealing with any misunderstandings that may arise."

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Published: 23 September 2008

Irish Times


By: Aidan Gaughran

TEACHING MATTERS: WHAT A difference a year makes - not a lot actually! This time last year, primary schools re-opened after the summer break with reasonable hopes that at long last, things were about to change.

A new Programme for Government promised, among other things, an end to overcrowded classes, more money for running costs and investment in schools ICT.

Teachers looked forward to teaching rather than crowd- control. Parents were hopeful that "voluntary" contributions would come to an end. Pupils expected that they would have the same technology in class as they have at home.

A year later and all of that expectation has evaporated. Class sizes remain the second highest in the EU.

"We will," claimed the government, "increase the number of primary teachers by at least 4,000. This will enable us to reduce class sizes. The staffing schedule will be reduced from a general rule of at least one teacher for every 27 pupils in 2007/08, by one point a year, to one for every 24 children by 2010/11."

The truth is that there are more teachers. Nothing like the 4,000 promised, but there are more. But not one of them has been used to tackle over- crowded classes. There are more teachers because there are more children. More children in the same over-crowded classes.

It will probably never become public, but I'd lay a bet that many principals are now on prescribed drugs for their nerves. They are faced with utility bills (their largest expenditure) that are on an upward, out-of-control spiral. Last year, almost every school relied on "voluntary" contributions from parents to plug the gap between what it costs to run a school and what the Department of Education is prepared to pay. Add to that the charges that are now ringing up in schools every time someone washes their hands or uses a toilet.

This year, as I write, principals are dusting down the same begging letters but with a new sense of urgency. The really difficult question is how much they can request from parents who themselves are struggling with rising energy costs.

More and more parents are seeing through the myth of free primary education.

Last but by no means least, most schools will have seen their computer facilities edge another year closer to obsolescence, unless of course their parent community has dug into its pockets and provided the cash. For most pupils, the interconnected, high-tech world that increasing numbers of them can comfortably negotiate outside school stops at the school gate.

I know many teachers who, before they attempt anything with computers in schools, issue the warning "Don't try this at home". The danger is that it might actually work on a home computer.

Others have given up on trying to get life out of clapped-out school computers.

In the meantime, all schools got a glossy report on school computing entitled Investing Effectively. I heard one principal threw it across the staff room with the words "invest what?"

It has been five months since Minister O'Keeffe took office - five months to make a difference.

So far, not so good. Memo to minister on primary teaching - could do better!

• Aidan Gaughran is a primary teacher in Clonmel, Co Tipperary
  
  

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Published: 23 September 2008

Irish Times

Dark days: Irish universities complain of operational deficits totalling more than €20 million, and say they are managing on about half the budget available to colleges in countries such as Britain and Denmark.Dark days: Irish universities complain of operational deficits totalling more than €20 million, and say they are managing on about half the budget available to colleges in countries such as Britain and Denmark.
Photograph: Frank Miller

TEACHER'S PET: That row over the projected revenue from third-level fees should have been very bad news for Batt O'Keeffe and his team.

Essentially, figures which grossly exaggerated the take from fees were leaked. Worse still, the Minister admits he saw the figures before they were released and failed to notice anything amiss - even though they were out by €400 million!

So when the hacks tackled the Minister on the issue at the Vocational school managers conference in Galway last Thursday, they should have been shooting at an open goal. But Batt came out with his hands up, admitted it was all dreadfully embarrassing and took it on the chin. These things happen, said an apologetic Batt.

It was another example of how the new Minister's genial, modest way is helping to keep him out of trouble. But Batt's team will know that this was a lucky escape, helped by last week's busy news agenda - and the fact that the Dáil is still in recess. Any repeat of last week's shambles would be very serious - especially with the talented Opposition team of Ruairí Quinn and Brian Hayes waiting to pounce.

• Is the Government's drive to merge all those State quangos about to focus on the education sector? Fine Gael's Brian Hayes has already pointed to a possible rationalisation involving the National Council for Special Education, the National Educational Psychological Service and the special needs section of the HSE. There is also loose talk of a possible merger involving HETAC, FETAC and the National Qualifications Authority. Happily, the Department of Education is dampening down such speculation and no proposals are on the table. The hope is that the various education agencies will be spared in the forthcoming cull. But, as one observer notes, no one is safe in current circumstances.
• With more than 25,000 visitors, the Irish Times' Higher Options - which is self-financing - was a huge success last week.

But what now for Opportunities the big FÁS jamboree next year?

As Brian Mooney has pointed out, last year's event was backed up by expensive, State-sponsored billboard campaign featuring model Georgia Salpa.

The question now - will the ubiquitous FÁS girl fall victim to the cutback mania sweeping through the public service ?

• Want to spread the word on the latest scandal? E-mail teacherspet@irish-times.ie

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