REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF REPORT ON THE STAY IN SCHOOL PROJECT
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF REPORT ON THE STAY IN SCHOOL PROJECT IN ROSARY COLLEGE, CRUMLIN, DUBLIN
I am happy to be here with you today to launch the report on the Stay-in-School Project – and I am particularly grateful to you for giving me this opportunity to be with you for the launch of a report which addresses the importance of education for the individual – in unlocking their talents – in allowing them to discover their own particular capabilities and aptitudes. For some young people, the significance of those school years in their own self-discovery – and in acquiring the basic skills for their future development - can so easily be lost, misunderstood or overlooked. So it is vital that we get through to them at the earliest possible stage to keep them in the system – making the investment in their adult lives.
This is an important report for a number of reasons. It is in itself a fine piece of scholarship - an interesting and cogent study – and it highlights a project which can serve as a model of good practice for similar programmes elsewhere. Brendan Devine, the report’s author gives us a comprehensive account of ‘mainstream’ measures to combat early school leaving. He assesses the correlation between educational attainment and prospects for employment. The main body of the report comprises an in-depth evaluation of the Stay-in-School Project which has meant so much to the lives of everybody here today.
Brendan refers to this project as an ‘innovative and practical attempt to address the incidence of early school leaving’. Once this concern was voiced, a synergy of efforts took place here in Crumlin. Many meetings and much planning took place; people such as Sr. Margaret Cadden were determined that something would be done to keep students in school.
Sr. Nuala Groarke and Joan Molamphy became driving forces as the collaborative nature of the programme emerged. Six schools have ‘bonded’ in their commitment to this project, and two more are waiting to come on board. The principals of those participating schools share a vision in their determination to make this project work. The Home/School/Community Liaison teachers of these schools are central to its success. You have come together to address a common need and have given freely of your time and expertise.
It is not only between schools that this collaboration is evident but also within schools. The commitment of the Link teachers to the students and the co-ordination required in providing day to day support must be acknowledged. The staff on the project have devised modules which target the real needs of the students and which dovetail with their studies in school.
The spirit of partnership is the driving force behind this project. There is partnership between schools and within schools, as I have already said, but there is also that vital partnership with the community, with local youth agencies and, above all, with the students themselves and their parents.
The Religious Sisters of Charity, the local Partnership – KWCD, the Drugs Task Force of Dublin 12 have all provided resources at crucial stages of the development of the project.
That brings me to the most important people here today – you, the students who have risen to the challenge of this project, are to be greatly admired and congratulated. The interviews with students contained in the Report show how much they feel they have gained from the Stay in School project and how they are determined to do the Junior Certificate, and go on to the Leaving Certificate or Youthreach. Their parents, many of whom are also here, deserve no less recognition for the support they have given their children and their schools. I noticed that one parent in the report said of her son ‘He’s great around the house now!’.
I congratulate Brendan Devine, the author of this report. I congratulate the many people who have inspired, implemented and supported this project. Above all, I congratulate the students and their families for making the project a success.
ENDS