Six Laois students attend Dáil na nÓg

MORE than 170 young people attended Dáil na nÓg at Leinster House to discuss education in Ireland, with the results set to be submitted to the current ongoing convention on education for deliberation.

Laois was represented by six secondary school students.

Dáil na nÓg, Ireland’s National Youth Parliament, now in its 24th year, has previously tackled a range of issues related to education, including reforms to the relationship and sexual education curriculum, creating resources for schools Our Voices, Our Schools and school and exam stress. The gathering of the biennial parliament was hosted by current ceann comhairle Verona Murphy.

As part of the process, delegates engaged in a number of preparatory sessions where they received presentations from the convention on education and discussed key issues before voting on the top five topics they would like to explore further. Having deliberated over general issues, the delegates then narrowed the five topics down to two, the Irish language and continuous assessment; the issues that were eventually brought to the formal biennial meeting in the Dáil chamber to be finally discussed and voted on.

The results of these votes will be submitted directly to the convention on education for consideration.

Discussing the convention, the minister for children, disability and equality Norma Foley said: “It is wonderful to see such passion for education and a desire from young people to improve the education system for all. From the moment children are born, they are learning. Early learning and care and school-age childcare settings play key roles in supporting children’s learning, development and wellbeing in their early years, complementing the central roles of parents, communities and schools.

‘‘We need to listen to the voices of children and young people and I am so very pleased that the views and vision of Dáil na nÓg delegates will be brought forward to the convention on education.”