Republican News · Thursday 3 April 2003

Educate that you may be free

BY JOANNE CORCORAN

"I believe this is our first comprehensive policy document on education. It was long overdue. It was worth the wait." Praising the party's new policy document -"Educate that you may be free", Martin McGuinness opened up the education debate at the 2003 Ard Fhéis.

McGuinness referred to the originator of the document's title, 19th century nationalist Thomas Davis, saying "he sought to define an inclusive Irish identity embracing all classes and creeds".

The former Minister for Education in the Six Counties praised teachers in all sectors of the education service, North and South, and quoted the old proverb - "It takes a whole village to educate a child."

This, he said, is "the essence of a Learning Neighbourhood, as defined in the document. A cluster of education providers working locally with the community, parents being involved, community groups, other agencies, all bringing talent, imagination and resources to bear on the task of teaching and learning."

McGuinness added that he had tried to tackle disadvantages in learning.

"I have ensured that funding would be allocated on the basis of greater need, and I have started putting in place a common funding formula for schools which would take account of social need in each school in a transparent way."

He made reference to the need to promote gaelscoileanna across the island, and commended the sector for its valuable work to date.

McGuinness added that he regretted that the work of the North-South Ministerial Council in the education sector had been slowed down by a unionist ban on Sinn Féin members attending.

Seán Crowe, TD and Sinn Féin Dáil spokesperson on education in the 26 Counties, said: "Nelson Mandela, the voice of the oppressed around the globe, described education as the most powerful weapon in the world.

He added: "Sinn Féin is fully committed to a free education system. You invest, and you reap the dividends. It is very odd that socialists have to explain the benefits of investment and dividends to capitalists. Every penny invested in ensuring there is free access to education is repaid.

"There is an old Chinese proverb which states: 'If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.' Sinn Féin is planning for generations, and it's time to educate the people. This is the way to do it."

Cllr Brian Stanley from Portlaoise criticised the Dublin government. "The reality is that in my own town and right across the country, the signs of Fianna Fáil and the PDs broken promises are all too apparent, in the form of dilapidated school buildings and prefabs that are falling to pieces."

Cavan Cllr Pauline McCauley, a second level teacher, welcomed motion 46 and spoke briefly on the teaching of the Irish language.

"I feel the method by which Irish is taught in many English medium schools is very poor and should be reconsidered. There is too much focus on the written element rather than the oral.

"Children initially learn to speak by listening to others, not by seeing words written on paper. The proof that this system has failed schools is that after an average of 13 years learning Irish in school, most of us cannot string two sentences together as Gaeilge."

Pauline also addressed the area of special needs students and said that the number of educational psychologists needs to be increased. "Often, parents and teachers will realise at an early stage that a child has a learning difficulty, which needs to be addressed.

"Presently this assessment could take years, unless the parents can afford to have their child privately assessed. Even with an assessment done, it often takes years for the Department of Education and Science to put in place the resources necessary to deal with the learning difficulties identified. This means children fall even further behind in their work, due to the absence of these supports."

She also spoke on a motion calling for the Hunger Strikes to be included in the history curriculum at every level in schools.

"The period of the hunger strikes is included in the history curriculum for the Junior Cert here in the 26 Counties. Students find this era in history very interesting. I expect the Leaving Cert. History Course to be changed in the near future. At present it covers the period up to 1966. Now is the time to lobby the Department of Education to ensure the inclusion of this Section."

All motions in the section were passed by the delegates.