Department of Education and Science Statement of Strategy 2003-2005

Department of Education and Science An Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta Statement of Strategy 2003" 2005 Department of Education and Science Statement of Strategy 2003-2005 Department of Education and Science, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1. Phone: (01) 889 6400 Website: www.education.ie E-mail: [email protected] 2 Department of Education and Science Statement of Strategy 2003-2005 Table Of Contents Foreword By the Minister for Education and Science 5 Introduction By the Secretary General of the Department 6 Our Mission 7 Chapter 1 A Changing Environment for Education 13 Chapter 2 Meeting the Needs of the Individual 19 Chapter 3 Supporting an Inclusive Society 25 Chapter 4 Contributing to Economic Prosperity 35 Chapter 5 Improving Standards and Quality 41 Chapter 6 Developing our Capacity to Deliver 47 Chapter 7 Focusing on the Needs of our Clients 57 Chapter 8 Contributing to Cross-Departmental Strategies 61 Chapter 9 A Changing Organisation 65 Appendix A - Organisation and Functions of the Department 70 Appendix B - Bodies Under the Aegis of the Department 71 Appendix C - Education Legislation Since 1924 73 3 Department of Education and Science Statement of Strategy 2003-2005 4 Department of Education and Science Statement of Strategy 2003-2005 FOREWORD Minister for Education and Science This Strategy Statement, coming as it does at the commencement of the Government’s term of office, charts a clear and challenging course for me, as Minister, and for my Department. The range, scale and complexity of the issues covered in this document reflect very clearly our education system in today’s Ireland. Education can no longer be viewed in its traditional narrow sense. It is now a central instrument of social and economic policy and we are challenged, therefore, to have clear, focused objectives under these headings and to deliver on them. It is nowhere more important than education to measure progress and success through evaluation of outcomes. As a society, we cannot rest on the laurels of the past. There is no room for complacency. True, our education system gives us much to be proud of but, equally, much needs to be done. Nowhere is this more evident than in the areas of educational disadvantage and social inclusion. The Agreed Programme for Government of June 2002 commits the Government to building a caring and inclusive society and to achieving real and sustained social progress. The issue of social inclusion, therefore, is a key priority for the Government and, since taking up office as Minister for Education and Science, I have emphasised my commitment to improving participation and achievement at every level of education. Some of our objectives will take many years to deliver and that means we have no time to lose. This Strategy Statement sets out what is to be done. Our job is to do it. Noel Dempsey, T.D., Minister for Education and Science. 5 Department of Education and Science Statement of Strategy 2003-2005 INTRODUCTION Secretary General of the Department I am pleased to present this Strategy Statement which has been prepared in consultation with the Minister and reflects the requirements of the Public Service Management Act, 1997. In the context of our vision of the challenges facing us, it sets out the key objectives and related strategies of the Department over the period 2003 to 2005. It is drawn up within the framework of available resources and in the context of Government policy as expressed through the Agreed Programme for Government, the National Development Plan and the new national partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress. Staff throughout the Department were involved in the process of developing the Strategy Statement. Through this process, we have established much clearer linkages between the Department’s mission statement, its high level goals and the objectives, strategies, outputs and performance indicators adopted to achieve and measure our success in relation to those goals. This will also allow for greater integration with the processes of business planning and performance management. The Department will provide an annual report to the Minister detailing progress on the implementation of the Strategy Statement in accordance with the terms of the Public Service Management Act, 1997. With the expertise and dedication of our staff and the continuing cooperation of the education partners, I believe we will be in a position to face the challenges ahead and achieve the ambitious series of goals and objectives set out in this Statement. John Dennehy, Secretary General. 6 Our Mission Mission Statement The mission of the Department of Education and Science is to provide for high-quality education, which will: •enable individuals to achieve their full potential and to participate fully as members of society, and •contribute to Ireland’s social, cultural and economic development. Our Mission Our Mission Mission Statement The mission of the Department of Education and Science is to provide "for high-quality education, which will: • enable individuals to achieve their full potential and to participate fully as members of society, and • contribute to Ireland’s social, cultural and economic development. High Level Goals In pursuit of this mission, the Department has the following "high level goals: " 1 We will deliver an education that is relevant to individuals’ personal, social, cultural and economic needs. " 2 We will support, through education, a socially inclusive society with equal opportunity for all. " 3 We will contribute to Ireland’s economic prosperity, development and international competitiveness. " 4 We will seek to improve the standard and quality of education and promote best practice in classrooms, schools, colleges and other centres for education. " 5 We will support the delivery of education by quality planning, policy formulation and customer service. 8 Department of Education and Science Statement of Strategy 2003-2005 Our Mission OUR MANDATE In support of these high-level goals, our mandate covers the key areas of policy analysis, planning and evaluation, quality assurance, resourcing, regulation and evaluation, as well as providing a wide range of support services for the education sector. Policy planning and review The provision of quality policy advice, as a support to the Minister and the Government and as an aid to decision- making and accountability to the Houses of the Oireachtas, is a crucial element of the service provided by the Department of Education and Science. Development and review of policy take place in consultation with the key stakeholders in education. Research and sharing of best practice are particularly important in the policy development process. A number of crosscutting and cross-departmental areas of policy responsibility, such as social inclusion and early childhood education, are advanced through our participation in working groups and task forces. Quality assurance Ensuring quality in education is one of our core responsibilities. The Department itself plays a key role in relation to quality at first and second levels while, in further and higher education, the Department, together with the Higher Education Authority, the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, the Further Education and Training Awards Council and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, has a role. Quality learning outcomes are vital for the achievement of active citizenship, employment and social inclusion. Evaluation of education programmes, assessment and certification, staff development and ongoing curriculum review all support this function. Human and financial resource allocation The Department is charged with a wide range of functions relating to the funding of the education sector. These include the payment of teaching staff, the payment of capitation grants to schools at first and second levels and the administration of a series of other recurring grants and once-off payments. We provide funding for a wide range of other bodies and services including Vocational Education Committees and youth and community-based services. Funding for the higher education sector is provided either directly by the Department or through the Higher Education Authority, which we fund for this purpose. The allocation of teachers at first, second and further education levels involves a range of considerations, from the numbers of pupils enrolled to the special requirements in particular schools. Specific teaching resources and other supports are allocated for individuals or groups of special needs pupils. The Department also performs a wide range of personnel and staff relations functions at all levels of education. The National Development Plan for 2000-2006, launched in November 1999, included provision of over €6.7 billion (in 1999 prices) for measures in the education sector. The European Community Support Framework for Ireland has allocated over €457 million from its Structural Funds for measures in the education sector, over the period 2000-2006. Planning and provision of education infrastructure We are responsible for providing the necessary education infrastructure to support the delivery of quality education at all levels. The Department must identify, quantify and prioritise the need for educational provision in order to 9 Our Mission deliver cost-effective, high quality accommodation to meet that need. Delivery depends on sustained and adequate capital allocations provided, ideally, within a multi-annual framework. Enhancing Education through Co-operation In the context of the

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