Pre-school education ‘should be a priority’

MORE Government funding must be provided to give children access to pre-school education, an expert body has recommended.

In its annual report, the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) has expressed concern about the State’s low level of investment in early childhood education. Recent international reports have shown that public spending on pre-primary education is lower here than in most developed countries.

The NCC report, due to be published by Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin today, highlights this as one of a number of areas in the education sector which needs to be addressed.

The council reports to the Taoiseach on key issues for the economy with recommendations on policies to enhance Ireland’s competitive position.

The education section of this year’s report recommends that the Minister for Education develop a programme for the roll-out of pre-primary initiatives targeted towards areas of social and economic disadvantage. While a pilot Early Start programme providing pre-primary access to children in 40 schools has been in place for a number of years, the Government has been urged to extend the scheme.

Irish National Teachers Organisation general secretary John Carr said studies have shown quality early childhood education can have benefits for individuals and the economy.

“Government has promised to introduce a national early-education system. This must ensure that every three-year-old gets an early childhood education as of right,” he said.

Mr Carr said a priority for year one of the new Minister’s term of office must be to ensure that all children with special needs and children in areas of concentrated disadvantage must be given an early childhood place.

The NCC report suggests such programmes could help alleviate educational disadvantage and lower the drop-out rate from second level.

Almost one-in-five students leaves formal education before sitting the Leaving Certificate, despite a number of schemes introduced in the past decade to reduce the figures.

The competitiveness report also points to the need for the Government to prioritise lifelong learning and adult education, but notes that the National Adult Learning Council is not fully operational.

However, it praises the establishment of the new National Qualifications Framework earlier this year which sets out a graded structure of qualifications from primary education through to doctorate degrees.

The lack of progress on implementing the 2002 report of the Task Force on Physical Sciences is also noted by the NCC, which recommends a general science subject should replace physics, chemistry and biology at Leaving Certificate level.