A debate on accountability in education is urgently needed following a court ruling last week not to release school league tables, Fine Gael claimed today.
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According to Mr Richard Bruton TD, the High Court ruling that information concerning the 1998 Leaving Certificate exam results should not have been released under the Freedom of Information Act should start a debate on accountability.
"League tables of exam results are certainly not the best answer, but Ireland has no system of accountability whatsoever," said Mr Bruton. This lack of systematic information led to government policies being implemented with no measure of their impact.
"How can it be argued that exams should be the sole test of a pupil’s performance but an irrelevant test for the school," said Mr Bruton.
He said Ireland needs to introduce a properly funded school improvement process which would:
- Develop the literacy and numeracy of pupils
- Achieve high standards in core subjects
- Develop the potential of pupils with special needs.
Mr Bruton suggested that an education development agency should work with schools to design better approaches to funding for schools.
"One thing is certain, it is weaker pupils who will pay if we refuse to develop proper systems of promoting school improvement," said Mr Bruton.