No department guidelines in train for school trips to overseas orphanages

Comhlámh points to international research highlighting how children who grow up in orphanage care typically have lower literacy and numeracy levels and fewer educational attainments than their peers. File photo

The Department of Education has no plans to develop guidelines for school trips that include guidance on not visiting orphanages, despite updated travel advice. 

As previously reported by the Irish Examiner, Irish aid organisation Comhlámh had called on the department to develop child-safe guidelines for school trips, including guidance not to visit orphanages.

Many Irish schools support orphanages through volunteering, visits, and fundraising. However, there is no official record of the number of schools that make overseas trips each year.

In the last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advice, stating that people travelling from Ireland should not visit or volunteer in orphanages. However, this has not been reiterated to schools by the Department of Education.

While well-intentioned, volunteering and visiting in this way helps to sustain an “orphanage industry”, according to Comhlámh, which works to promote responsible volunteering.

The group points to international research highlighting how children who grow up in orphanage care typically have lower literacy and numeracy levels and fewer educational attainments than their peers.

There is also growing recognition of the links between orphanages, orphanage visits, and child trafficking. According to Comhlámh, approximately 80% of the 5.4 million children living in orphanages globally have a living parent. 

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In response to a recent parliamentary question from Sinn Féin education spokeswoman Sorcha Clarke, Education Minister Norma Foley said a school's board of management has overall responsibility for school policies including a school’s policy in relation to schools trips/outings.

All schools in Ireland must have a child safeguarding statement which outlines the school's commitment to safeguarding children from harm. "It is the responsibility of each school authority to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place while children are participating in school trips [and] outings," Ms Foley said. 

The objective of an educational tour should be that it provides a significant "benefit in the educational, intellectual, cultural and social development" of pupils taking part, which cannot be provided by in-school activities alone, she added. 

"Where a board of management is satisfied that a school tour meets the criteria, such a tour may be undertaken without seeking prior approval from the department."