7.9              Provision of Information to Students

The Education Act, 1998, Section 27, requires a Board of Management to establish and maintain procedures for the purposes of informing students of the activities of the school. These procedures should facilitate the involvement of the students in the operation of the school in association with their parents and teachers. This involvement should have regard to the age and experience of the students.

The Student Council

The Education Act, Section 27, also requires a Board of Management to encourage the establishment by students of a Student Council, to facilitate students who wish to establish such a Council and to give all reasonable assistance to the Council when it is established.

A Student Council should promote the interests of the school and the involvement of students in the affairs of the school, in co-operation with the Board of Management, teachers and parents.

The DES has published guidelines for the establishment and conduct of Student Council. This publication may be accessed on the DES website at http://www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/student_council_voice.pdf. The rules for the establishment of a Student Council should be drawn up by the Board of Management in accordance with these guidelines. Having been established, the Council, following consultation with the Board of Management, may make rules governing its affairs, including the conduct of meetings.