Points race stress 'may spark violence in young' - Irish Independent, May 16, 2003

   AN education system driven by the "points race" may be contributing to growth in random acts of violence by young people, a conference heard yesterday.

Brendan Griffin, president of the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA), the representative body for the country's 33 VECs, said to focus on points and little else was to fail students. He said the rise in grind schools' popularity and the Leaving Certificate media frenzy were evidence of the unhealthy direction the curriculum had taken.

In his keynote address to the IVEA annual conference, Mr Griffin said it was time for the State to re-evaluate educational priorities. There was a need, he said, for a "complete" education oriented more towards students' personal development than their viability as economic commodities. Mr Griffin said education was the key to eradicating many erroneous beliefs and unproductive behaviour patterns.

"A complete education should enable an individual to function in a productive manner in society. Thus, we must ask ourselves - has our education system failed those youths who engage in random acts of violence? "

Provision of pastoral care, guidance counselling, remedial support and extra support for students' moral and spiritual development are essential components in a complete education," he said.

He said many engaged in such acts did not come from a materially disadvantaged background. It had been suggested increased disposable income facilitating substance and alcohol abuse was the most likely root cause, but he was not speculating on sociological issues.

He called on Education Minister Noel Dempsey to conduct a fundamental review of the ethos that had generated the current school curriculum. He said the increased incidence of street violence also had ramifications for teachers in maintaining school discipline.

Meanwhile, president of the new Human Rights Commission Dr Maurice Manning challenged Justice Minister Michael McDowell's proposal to shorten tribunals of inquiry, claiming such a change raised human rights issues. He also questioned the minister's assertion that the courts should not adjudicate on social and economic rights issues such as education and housing.

Dr Manning, speaking at the IVEA conference, also said he supported the appointment of a police ombudsman. The commission has been set up to monitor effectiveness of law on human rights issues, examine legislation from a human rights perspective and probe cases. The only way to obtain human rights might be through courts, Dr Manning said. He would not hesitate to take that route or support those who do, if no other option was available.

Katherine Donnelly

© Irish Independent