merrion street

The Government today 2nd October, 2012 welcomed the report from the National Economic and Social Council Quality and Standards in Human Services in Ireland: The School System.

The school system has been lauded as a key driver in Ireland’s economic success of the 1990s and early 2000s and must play a significant role in the development of the knowledge economy and associated employment growth.

The NESC Report Quality and Standards in Human Services in Ireland: The School System reviews the significant legislative and institutional developments which have occurred over the past decade in terms of the extent to which they have improved quality and accountability. Despite considerable strides being made in the areas of school evaluation, curriculum development, student welfare and teacher accreditation and development, the Report suggests some pointers for future policy development:

i. the development of a culture and discipline of reflective practice within schools based upon relatively objective evidence; and

ii. the provision of a national data and standards framework which provides a sound basis for judgement about quality and improvement.

These findings and suggested improvements provide education stakeholders with the opportunity to look beyond traditional responses in their ongoing quest for a modern quality school system.