Poor records at school in pregnancy row

THE SCHOOL which excluded a pregnant teenage girl kept such poor records that it was investigated by the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC).

The DPC acted on foot of a complaint and was so concerned about the school’s record-keeping that it reported it to the Department of Education.

The department’s inspectorate is now carrying out an investigation into the way in which it is run.

An investigation by the Children’s Ombudsman found the private school in Munster, which this newspaper is not naming, appeared to have no board of management, written admissions policy or complaints procedure.

The decision to exclude the then 16-year-old girl, taken by the school’s owner, was condemned by politicians in both the Dáil and Seanad yesterday.

Fianna Fáil education spokesman Brendan Smyth said the decision was a “disgrace” and “discrimination pure and simple”.

Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said a member of his own family had been excluded from school 20 years ago when she became pregnant at 17.

“Irish society has moved on but our legislation hasn’t,” he said.

Minister of State for Education Sean Sherlock said the teenager’s exclusion was “completely at variance with any Republican principles we adhere to” and was “unchristian”.

Nobody answered the phone at the school yesterday and there was no response to emails.

Several organisations involved in the post-primary sector have said the exclusion was unusual.

Clive Byrne, chief executive of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, said schools “routinely deal with issues like this in a supportive way that cares for the student without condoning the actions. If you are a principal, the best way to deal with it is to think about how your own child would be treated.”

Ferdia Kelly of the Joint Managerial Body, which represents the management of almost 400 voluntary secondary schools, said pregnancy should “never be an issue” in admissions.

He said the school acted “inappropriately” in excluding the girl.

“The unfortunate side effect of this issue is that there is an implication that schools are not supportive of pupils that are pregnant. Schools are highly supportive and pastoral towards girls who find themselves pregnant.”

A spokeswoman for the Association of Secondary School Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) said there appeared to be a lack of accountability at the school and the case illustrated the need for a board of management in every school.

Central Statistics Office figures for 2009 show there were 1,201 births to girls who were 18 or under and 161 mothers were 16.

* This article was amended on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 to correct a factual error.