Press Release December 2005
Traveller Focus Week - DVD for Traveller parents on primary school launched today
TRAVELLER FOCUS WEEK - 2005 - RECOGNITION
EMBARGO 12.30PM 6th DECEMBER 2005
Given the fact that in 2002 the CSO identified that 2/3 of Travellers had left school by the age of 15 years it is little wonder that many Traveller parents have little or no experience of the school system. Therefore many find it hard to support their children in that environment. To address these issues Pavee Point Travellers Centre has produced a DVD "Pavee Parents Primary Concerns" as an Educational tool to inform Traveller Parents on ways they can support their child in Primary School. The DVD is being launched today as part of Traveller Focus Week
"Many Traveller parents feel embarrassed visiting schools because of poor literacy. They may not be able to understand the words that are used and they might not be able to read the letters that are sent from the school." said Kathleen McDonnell, a Traveller parent who features in the DVD. "As Traveller parents we know that our children are often called names and bullied in school and we sometimes don't know how to deal with that. This DVD gives us some idea of how to go about getting fair play or making a complaint in a school" she continued.
Pavee Parents Primary Concerns is an Educational tool to inform Traveller Parents on ways they can support their child in Primary School and stresses the importance of parental involvement and how this involvement enhances a child's education.
Through a consultation process on Education in 2004 with 450 Travellers throughout Ireland organised by Pavee Point, the National Traveller women's Forum and the Irish Traveller movement, Traveller Parents expressed the need to learn more about the Education system so that they can support their children in school. Many parents found it difficult to approach school personnel and had difficulties enrolling their children in schools. Racist name-calling is a daily experience for many Traveller children and parents expressed frustration at not knowing what steps to take in dealing with these issues.
Pavee Parents, Primary Concerns offers support and advice to Traveller parents who may experience some of these difficulties and presents some of the organisations that are available to parents such as the National Parents Council, the Anti-Bullying Centre and the National Education Welfare Board. There are 8 themes in Pavee Parents, Primary Concerns, these are; Enrolment, Visiting Teacher and Home School Liaison, Communication with Schools, Homework, Attendance, Bullying and Parents Associations. One of the most important messages in this DVD is that Parents are the primary educators with or without high levels of literacy.
"Traveller Education is central to the Traveller Human Rights agenda. We would hope that Pavee Parents, Primary Concerns makes a contribution in increasing inclusion and reducing exclusion of Travellers in the Education system" said Jane Rooney, Education co-ordinator in Pavee Point and co-producer of the DVD at the launch, "However much more concerted action is required by the government and we call on the Department of Education to urgently publish the long awaited National Traveller Education Strategy" she concluded.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT JANE ROONEY ON 8780255 EXT 108