New year-long national convention on the future of education to focus on students' needs
A year-long national convention on the future of education, expected to be the largest of its kind in the history of the State, is to be launched in the next school year.
The convention, to be launched by education minister Helen McEntee, will be led by an independent chair.
The last national convention on education was passed more than 30 years ago, in 1994.
The process is expected to focus strongly on young people achieving their full potential as a theme, and how best to 'equip young people to thrive and succeed' considering rapid advancements in technology.
The group will also examine the needs of the teacher workforce in the future, school leadership and achieving an inclusive education system.
It is expected the convention will be addressed by a number of groups, each with their own chair, representing children and young people, education stakeholders, including teachers, and parents.
The convention will also hear from employers and civil society groups.
At the INTO annual congress on Tuesday, Ms McEntee said she planned to establish the convention as 'serious thought' needed to be given to the role and capacity of schools.
This includes those who work in them as well as 'the evolving needs of students, with a technological revolution under way, a rise in intolerance and existential threats to our democracies worldwide".
Meanwhile, the minister was greeted by primary school teachers calling for Government action on the Occupied Territories Bill as she arrived at the union's annual congress in Galway on Tuesday.
There, the union passed a motion endorsing the Boycott Divestment Sanctions campaign, and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, while adapting a resolution that 'utterly condemns the ongoing genocide in Gaza'.
Addressing the conference, Ms McEntee said: "Too many children in the world are living in poverty, are experiencing war and upheaval from the safe haven of their homes."
In particular, the children of Gaza, she said, who are "living through unimaginable pain" and experiencing hunger and loss like you could never imagine.
Funding, workload and assault leave were high on the agenda as the INTO continued its annual congress of delegates into its second day.
The primary capitation grant must rise to €400 per pupil, and every other school grant must increase substantially too, INTO general secretary John Boyle said in his address to delegates.
'Right now, we have more vulnerable children in our classrooms than ever,' he said.
'Those with additional needs, those experiencing poverty and homelessness, refugees, asylum seekers and those from marginalised communities."
While the OECD has praised Ireland's education system, it has also flagged major gaps, he added.
This includes teacher retention in disadvantaged schools, lack of counselling supports, and underrepresentation of marginalised groups among teachers.
He also called on the minister to launch the new Deis plus scheme in time for September.
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