         
National Consultation Process on the Irish Education System The Department of Education has initiated a consultation process to identify and examine some of the main concerns in education policy in Ireland. The process has been initiated by the publication of a discussion document, Your Education System setting out some of the major issues facing Irish society and Irish education. Its purpose is to stimulate debate rather than to set out the answers. This consultation process itself aims to involve the public in the framing of future education policy. It recognises the fact that an education system should have public ownership and should be developed with the highest level of regard to national consensus. Sixteen public meetings take place around the country during February and March and the objective is to maximise public participation via this process. The public meetings will be supplemented by an attitudinal survey and by meetings focused on particular topics. The process will be formally concluded at the end of 2004 with the release of a document encapsulating the public view. The process is being supported by an independent secretariat headed by Dr Tom Kellaghan of the Educational Research Centre at St Patrick's College, Dublin. Anyone who wishes to contribute views orcomments may do so in a number of ways. Apart from the public meetings, the Your Education System web site allows submissions to be made on-line under a number of different topic headings, and these will be published on the site (unless the contributor specifically requests otherwise). Comments may also be sent by post or fax. Further information and submissions:
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