18 March 2003
NEWB Appoints Kildare Man

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), the new national agency with responsibility for encouraging and supporting regular school attendance, has appointed Kildare man Seamus Kelly as Director of Educational Services.

Seamus, who lives in Leixlip, was previously a District and Senior Inspector in the Department of Education and Science. He was the contact inspector for Kildare Vocational Educational Committee and thirty schools in the Kildare-West Dublin areas. At the Department he was instrumental in establishing a fair and efficient appeals system for school placement and exclusion. He was also involved in the development of education policy and practice for Travellers. His appointment is one of the first senior permanent appointments to be made by the new board.

The primary function of the NEWB is to ensure that each child in the State attends a recognised school or otherwise receives an appropriate education. The Board also has responsibilities in relation to children educated outside of recognised schools and young people who leave school early to take up employment. Towards this, Seamus will work with schools to assist them in meeting their obligations under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000. He will also work with parents/guardians and others concerned with the welfare of young people to develop appropriate policies and systems to ensure that the NEWB's service is both effective and fully accessible.

Seamus also worked previously as a secondary school teacher and was a tutor/demonstrator at University College Dublin. In 2002, he received a first class honour in M.Ed in School Leadership from National University of Ireland, Maynooth.

In addition, this week, schools throughout Kildare received an important letter setting out new arrangements to promote regular school attendance and tackle the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving.

The letter outlines the roles and immediate plans of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), including information on how schools can get in touch with the new Board. Immediate activities will include the appointment of Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) to areas of most need, the development of a Strategic Plan in consultation with Education Partners and the development of National Guidelines to assist schools meet their obligations under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000.

For more information contact: Edel Hackett, 087-2935207