By Róise Collins
CONCERNS have been raised regarding a lack of mechanisms to follow up on the movement of students who are seeking refuge in Donegal if they leave the jurisdiction.
The query were raised by Sinn Féin councillor Albert Doherty during a recent meeting of the ETB, following discussions on the closure of accommodation centres Ukrainian refugees across the county.
Many refugees have now resettled or received alternative accommodation following the closure of accommodation centres, with Ukrainian students moving schools as a result.
However, Cllr Doherty is concerned for those students who may have moved outside of the jurisdiction.
He highlighted a gap in identifying and being able to follow the progression of students leaving Donegal, whether they are returning to their home country or crossing the border there are no mechanisms to track their movement within the education system.
Cllr Doherty shared these concerns in light of the case of missing schoolboy Kyran Durnan.
The eight year old was reported missing in August but Gardaí suspect he was murdered more than two years ago.
Kyran was taken out of school at the end of May 2022, but he was registered on the school roll up to the last day of term in June.
Cllr Doherty asked members of the ETB, “Is a there a mechanism of sharing knowledge for a student who leaves the system here in Donegal and returns somewhere else or perhaps reenrols in the six counties?
“Do our schools have capacity to say we know where Johnny or Mary went?
“Our national media have highlighted a child who may have left school in Dundalk or that area, age 6 and hasn’t been seen.
“The fact that you said families might resettle in other areas if the centres were closed or no longer available.
“What mechanisms do we have or do we need to ensure that we are satisfied that A,B or C are continuing their education elsewhere?”
Responding to his question, Martin Gormley Director of schools, ETB confirmed that there are “challenges” for schools if the students leave the jurisdiction.
“As they leave the Republic of Ireland we find it really difficult to track because there is no such system.
“We also find it challenging if they go back to Ukraine and don’t tell us,” said Mr Gormley.
“The system at the minute is that they would remain on the school system and if somebody is absent for the twenty days then it is reported to Tusla.
“But I would say they have similar challenges,” he added.
The ETB said that these concerns would be raised with the Department of Education.
Speaking to the Donegal News following the meeting, Cllr Doherty said that there seems to be void that should be filled.
“I thought there was a gap in relation to identifying and being able to follow progression of those leaving. I found it especially so as Donegal is a border county.
“When somebody leaves the jurisdiction then they don’t have a process in place to check which confirms further education in a different jurisdiction.
“We should have a something that enables everybody to know that a pupil that leaves the education system or returns to whatever country that they have come from,” he said.
Related posts:
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)