Homework in primary school has “no value”, Labour’s Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said. 

The latest Children's School Lives report interviewed some 4,000 primary school children and found most had a negative attitude towards homework - with 56% of fifth class pupils insisting there was “no point” to it. 

Negative attitudes towards the practice harden as pupils age and Deputy Ó Riordáin - who previously worked as a school principal - said he sympathised with their point of view. 

“If the last 20 minutes of every school day is about children taking down what their homework is and if the first half hour of every day is correcting what happened the previous day and having conversations about what was done and what wasn’t done, then it’s not really a good use of school time,” he said. 

Children doing homework. (Photo by Robin Utrecht / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)

Deputy Ó Riordáin said schools should focus on creating a positive learning environment if children are to flourish. 

“Certainly, homework [and] education should be something that’s enjoyable,” he said. 

“Homework isn’t enjoyable; it’s something that students dread and if education is something you struggle with or learning is something you struggle with, then homework is something you’re not going to particularly enjoy. 

“So, I think having a vibrant school community is the key; having parents, families in and out of the school is the key. 

“But I think we need to move beyond this idea of homework because I really don’t see - particularly at primary level - what the value of it is.” 

Children who are anti-homework also have a powerful ally in President Michael D Higgins; last year, he told a group of children, “I think myself, really that the time at home, and the time in the school is an educational experience and it should get finished at the school and people should be able to use their time for other creative things.”

Minister for Education Norma Foley said in response it would not be “appropriate” for her to debate the President on the matter.

Main image: A father and son struggle with homework.