The new charter aimed at guiding schools’ policy

THE parent and student charter is aimed at giving parents a bigger say in the running of our schools.

Earlier this year, Education Minister Richard Bruton secured approval from Cabinet to draft the Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill 2016.

This proposed new law would require every school around the country to consult with parents and students on ‘key issues’.

Every school will then have to publish and operate a parent-and-student charter.

This is to ensure there is always ‘open, progressive communication between students, parents and schools’.

As well as having to consult with parents and pupils about the potential banning of smartphones or restriction on their use under the new proposed law, schools will have to consult with them about a number of other issues, including costs.

Schools will be required to publish a financial statement with information on how any voluntary contributions are used, as well as inviting feedback from students and parents, and the provision of a ‘fair and accessible mechanism for resolving complaints’, while stipulating that the use of formal grievance and complaint processes should only be ‘a last response’.

Schools will also be asked to consult with parents and pupils on how they can provide better information about their management and policies, including information on admission, extracurricular activities and school performance.

A Government source explained that this Bill is currently being drafted by the Attorney General’s office and it is on the priority list to be published before the summer recess.

‘Government will approve the draft and it will be published and then debated in the Dáil,’ they added.

Provisions in the general scheme of the Bill include providing the Education Minister with the power to ‘direct school boards to comply with the guidelines’.

It will also require schools to ‘consider suggestions, guidance or recommendations made by the Ombudsman for Children’.