Government efforts to combat educational disadvantage lack any kind of coherent approach, according to a major new report commissioned by Minister for Education Mary Hanafin.
The report says efforts to combat problems like low-literacy levels, early school-leaving and high absenteeism are hampered by the lack of "joined-up thinking" and "joined-up action".
The final report from the Education Disadvantage Committee (EDC) wants much stronger collaboration between Government departments and State agencies. It also wants a national strategy to address low-literacy levels - and much stronger intervention to prevent early school-leaving.
The report, published yesterday, states: "It was clear that there is a serious lack of 'joined-up thinking' and 'joined-up action' at both local and national levels in addressing issues of educational disadvantage. The committee has attempted to join up at least some of the 'dots' on the map and to develop a coherent strategy for the future."
Literacy levels in poorer areas are very disturbing. According to one recent finding, more than 25 per cent of primary school children in poorer areas are performing at the lowest literacy and numeracy level, despite initiatives over the past decade. In some schools, more than 50 per cent of pupils have severe literacy problems.
The EDC also recommends the Government increases its spending and the general resourcing of education as a proportion of gross national income. This follows an OECD report this year which showed Ireland in 21st place out of 27 countries for spending on second-level education.
The resources available to the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) - responsible for school attendance - should also be increased, says the report. It wants an end to the practice where some counties and larger suburbs have no school attendance or education welfare officer due to the board's lack of funding.
On early school-leaving, the report wants new intervention programmes to reduce the high level of dropping out. Recent figures suggest that one in 12 schools has a drop-out rate of more than 50 per cent.
The committee wants an NEWB register to monitor those aged 16 and 17 who leave school early to take up employment. It recommends that arrangements could be made with employers so that early school-leavers continue education and training.
With regard to the pupil-teacher ratio, the report states: "The standards of international best practice must be applied in Irish schools in relation to class size, pupil-teacher ratio and resources for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and for learners with special needs."
Yesterday, Ms Hanafin said the the issues raised by the committee would be addressed in the context of national action plans, social partnership agreements and the new action plan for educational inclusion.
"In the coming year, over €630 million will be spent on tackling disadvantage in education at all levels," she said.
An INTO spokesperson said the implementation of the report should be a priority for the Department of Education and Science and that, while the recommendations were challenging, they could not be ignored.
The spokesperson said: "Real commitment from the Department of Finance will be needed to ensure that disadvantage spending is directed towards the early years of a child's life where it will have the most impact."
The EDC was chaired by Prof Áine Hyland, vice-president at University College Cork.