EDC Host French Principals
Educational Disadvantage Centre: Hosting Visit of School Principals from Paris Zone d’éducation Prioritaire Schools
In October 2018, the Educational Disadvantage Centre, Institute of Education, hosted a visit from a group of French secondary school principals from Zone d’éducation Prioritaire schools in areas of high poverty in Paris. Their visit was to investigate aspects of school climate in Irish DEIS schools and its role in early school leaving prevention.
The Educational Disadvantage Centre arranged for the principals to visit a number of sites. These included 5 DEIS schools in Ballymun, Ballyfermot, Cabra, Kilbarrack and South West Inner City Dublin, Cabra School Completion Programme, Familibase Community Based Multidisciplinary Team, Ballyfermot, as well as with senior officials from the Department of Education and Skills Social Inclusion Section and Tusla, Child and Family Agency. The principals also met with the Dean of the Institute of Education, Dr. Anne Looney.
The principals gave a presentation to the 4th year B.Ed students during their lecture course on Poverty and Social Inclusion. In this the principals highlighted key strengths in the French system, strengths which require development for the Irish system. These include hot meals for all students and at nominal charge for students experiencing poverty, and nurses onsite in all schools in France, both primary and postprimary, as part of multidisciplinary team working and as support for students’ physical and emotional welfare.
A report will be presented by the principals to the French Education Ministry to highlight key issues for development in the French system with regard to early school leaving prevention, based on learning from the Irish examples and contexts from their visit.