ALTERNATIVE learning units should be established in schools serving those areas where there are high levels of disadvantage and underprivilege and where non-attendance at school is a difficulty, according to Joe O'Toole general secretary of the INTO.
With the recent surge in crime, it is now imperative we recognise the intrinsic link between educational disadvantage and crime," he says. "The Minister for Justice's new proposals which include a constitutional referendum to allow changes in bail laws, although progressive, fail to address the obvious root causes."
The proposed alternative learning units would focus on the social and emotional development of children whose needs are not being met by the resources currently available to the school authorities, he explains.
O'Toole says that the units would be staffed by a support teacher and have the necessary support staff - psychologist, childcare worker, social workers and the school doctor - assigned to them. The involvement of the local Garda Junior Liaison Officer would also be sought.
"The pupils we are discussing come from the most disadvantaged and underprivileged communities in our society. They are non-attenders at primary level; they drop out at post-primary. And they are not even in the reckoning nor in the statistics at third-level. These pupils are utterly unaffected by the debate on free university fees and additional third-level places," says O'Toole.
The School Attendance Act does not apply to children under the age of six. He says that this should be corrected immediately as it is illogical to allow pupils at risk to develop two years of poor attendance habits before they come under the prescript ion of compulsory education.
O'Toole notes that the Constitution, in Article 42 sub-section three, requires that all children "receive a certain minimum of education".
If this constitutional imperative were put into operation it would ensure that all pupils, even disadvantaged pupils, got due care, attention and resources, he adds. "This must be a priority and it requires legislation."
Children at risk should be prioritised for pre-school and early childhood education. "Primary schools serving these pupils should have the resources to reduce class size to a point where a one-to-one teacher/pupil interaction can provide guidance, advice and a sympathetic response to pupils. They should also be in a position to supply hot school meals. The fact that most criminals first crime is stealing food should not be forgotten."
O'Toole says that it is irresponsible that a programme of drugs education has still not been introduced at primary school level. "Undoubtedly this is causing a loss of life."
