Children in State care need more school support, says Logan

The State not providing children in care with the support they need in schools, the Children's Ombudsman said today.

Around 6,300 children are currently in the care of the State.

A study by the ESRI in conjunction with the office of the Ombudsman found that while children in care can have positive experiences in schooling, many face significant challenges in pursuing their education.

Children's Ombudsman Emily Logan said that there have been cases where teachers have committed to assisting children in care to achieve their education outcomes, but the system has failed to provide the necessary support.

"When you're 18 in care, the State is not obliged to provide aftercare for you," she said.

"This child left education, this principal was devastated having clearly committed as an educationalist to that child.

"And we see that quite a bit - principals and teachers who, on an individual basis, are very committed to individual children, but most of the educational outcomes rely very much on the child's personal resilience and that's not enough.

"The system should be around those children to do as best it can."