Since 1996 we have collected copies of relevant articles in the area of education and equality from the Irish Times and Irish Examiner on a daily basis. The following are snapshots of some of the issues that have caught the eye of the media in the last six months. For further information contact Jennifer Sweeney at (021) 4902167 or heeurc@eircom.net
Reports on education and disability
National Qualification’s Authority
Both the Irish Times and the Examiner report extensively on the landmark decision by the High court in early October, 2000 where it was found that the State had failed to honour its constitutional obligation to Mr Jamie Sinnott and his mother to provide free primary education. Mr Sinnott, now aged 23, was diagnosed with autism in his first year. Despite having many programmes of education and services recommended he had had no more than two year of meaningful education. Mr Justice Barr directed the State to provide free primary education to Mr Jamie Sinnott for as long as he might benefit from it and awarded damages of £225,000. Significantly the Judge ruled that the ultimate criteria for interpreting the State’s obligation was need, not age and therefore the State’s obligation does not cease at age 18. The Department of Education and Science have lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court to ‘..clarify whether all adults over the age of 18 who had inadequate education were entitled to on-going education’ (Examiner 1/11/2001). (Irish Times and Examiner, various, October, 2000 – March 2001)
Task Forces on Autism and Dyslexia began work in October 2000, chaired by Dr Sheelagh Drudy, NUI, Maynooth and Dr Peadar Cremin, UL respectively. UCD has the first chair of studies in disability in Ireland. This is funded by the National Disability Authority with the objective of addressing the lack of research into disability issues. (‘UCD gets Chair for Studies in Disability’ Irish Times Education and Living) – 13/02/2001). This report also gives details of a survey by AHEAD which shows a ‘small but significant’ increase in the number of students with disabilities at college.
26th February 2001 saw the inauguration of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI). This is a statutory body set up under the Qualifications (Training and Education Act) 1999. Its functions include establishing and maintaining a framework of qualifications based on standards of knowledge, skill and competence, facilitating lifelong learning by promoting access, transfer and progression for all learners and promoting the maintenance and improvement of awards of the further, higher education and training sector (not the Universities) and to liaise with bodies outside the State for the mutual recognition of awards at transnational level. The members of the NQAI are Mr Richard Langford (chairperson), Ms Inez Bailey, Ms Aileen O’Donoghue, Ms Marie O’Mahony, Dr Caroline Hussey, Mr Julian de Spáinn, Mr Jim Dorney, Fr Nicholas Flavin, Mr Donal Kerr.
Chairpersons of the Further Education and Training Awards Council and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council are members of the Authority. Prof Joyce O’Connor has been appointed as Chair of the Further Education and Training Awards Council and Prof Ciaran Murphy is currently chairing the Higher Education and Training Awards Council. These are also statutory bodies given force by the Act.
(Dept of Education and Science Press Release and various newspaper reports)
The Equality Authority has been establishing itself as a presence in the public eye. In the six months following its establishment in October 1999 the EA had dealt with more than 5,000 queries (‘Authority is getting a big response’ 7/26/2000). Of particular media interest was criticism by the Equality Authority of a Sunday Independent article on an award against Ryanair for an advertisement which was found to discriminate on the age ground. (‘Equality Body criticises article’ Irish Times 12/02/2001). This led to further ‘discussion’ of the rights of and obligations on journalists in their reports and commentary (see for example ‘Equality Posing New Challenges for Media’ Irish Times, 20/01/2001 and also articles regarding Mary Ellen Synon’s Sunday Independent article on the Special Olympics). More recently the Equality Authority has called for the Government to set up a database of ‘qualified, suitable women and deadlines of when targets would be met’ This was in response to composition of the National Pensions Fund Commission which has one woman out of seven members. (Women’s Day, Irish Times. 9/03/2001).
The inadequacy of the third-level grant schemes has been highlighted in the past few months. With the cost of studying and living away from home estimated at over £5,000 and the full maintenance grant for those eligible and living away from home at £2,000 (from ‘The rising cost of learning and ‘The great book and gown swindle’. Irish Times. 9/1/2001) the shortfall is significant. This is an issue which has been seriously taken up by the USI this year. They have been protesting around the country at the low level of the available grants. (Various reports, for example ‘Third-level students protest over grants’ Irish Times 24/01/2001 or ‘Silent protest’ the Examiner. 24/01/2001). Again reports of the work and findings of the Government Action Group on Third-Level Education focused on the remit of the group to review maintenance grant levels and how the recommendations would work to address economic barriers. (‘Report aims to increase access to third-level institutions. IT – 12/02/2001 and ‘Pay Colleges to take poor students, says report’ – IT – 12/02/2001)
Childcare is another issue that has featured on a consistent basis in the last few months. There was an increase in child benefit in the current budget but otherwise it was found to be disappointing once again in taking concrete measures to address the issue (‘Boost in benefit fails to silence criticism over childcare costs’ Irish Times 7/12/2001). Articles, letters and features focused as much on national childcare policy, choices in childcare provision and quality of provision as on the economics of providing and availing of it. Particularly ‘Single mother’s struggle to stay at college’ highlights the enormous barriers to a teenage parent attending college. (Irish Times 20/02/2001)
Table of Contents of Newsletter 10