Bruton defends school online safety order
EDUCATION Minister Richard Bruton has defended his new instructions for schools’ smartphones policies.
Members of the Opposition yesterday said his instructions were putting too much of a burden on teachers, parents and pupils.
Yesterday, Mr Bruton issued a circular to all schools – both primary and second level – instructing them to decide on a smartphone and tablet policy ‘as soon as possible’.
But Fianna Fáil’s Thomas Byrne yesterday said he believes the ‘department should be giving clear guidance to schools based on the research available, rather than leaving everything for schools to do’.
He said his party is still pushing ahead with their call to ban smartphones in schools up until Junior Cert level, except in situations where they act as learning-support aids.
‘This is putting a huge burden on schools around the country without actually giving them any help or support to do their work. And it appears to require schools to decide quickly, if you read the terms of the circular as well,’ Mr Byrne added.
Fianna Fáil’s Fiona O’Loughlin, a former primary school teacher, is chair of the Oireachtas Education Committee and she believes there ‘should be more stringent guidelines at a national level’.
Minister Bruton said yesterday this policy can’t be something which is handed down from the department’s headquarters in Marlborough Street, and that it would be far better if this is ‘evolved with parents and students and the people who are operating it’.
He said that this consultation process could ‘trigger an important conversation at local level’.
He was speaking on Newstalk with Dr Ciara Kelly when he said the leadership on this issue should come ‘up from the ground level’.
Moira Leydon, Assistant General Secretary of the ASTI, told the Irish Daily Mail this ‘circular provides clarity to schools on developing policy in this area and a meaningful consultation process will ensure that schools will arrive at policies which best reflect the culture, ethos and needs of our schools’.