Substantial increase in the pupil-teacher ratio amounts to an attack on Irish-medium schools
March 7, 2011
The Department of Education and Skills’ decision to end the current pupil-teacher ratio for Irish-medium schools is a cause of great concern to gaelscoileanna the length and breadth of the country. The present system recognises the challenges facing small Irish-medium schools, allowing them a more favourable pupil-teacher ratio than their English-medium counterparts. This system recognised the considerable extra workload involved in running an Irish-medium school, such as implementing the entire curriculum through the medium of Irish and the lack of resources and supports. The ratio was granted in recognition of the need to protect and strengthen the immersion sector and to protect the schools’ language ethos.
It has been announced that from September 2011, the ratio in Irish-medium schools will be identical to that in schools teaching through the medium of English, a change which will be detrimental for the Irish-medium sector, resulting in job losses for teachers, larger class sizes and a complete dilution of the effectiveness of the immersion experience for the pupil. There are also disastrous implications for teachers’ employment prospects, particularly those without panel rights which is significant given that teachers in Irish-medium schools are not served by a suitable panel.
This is disastrous for Irish-medium schools, particularly those with between three and eight teachers. Up to 31 schools will lose one teacher if this recommendation is put into practice. Four schools will each lose two teachers and the principal will be compelled to return to the classroom in the case of 6 schools. Class sizes will increase as will the amount of mixed class groups with higher class numbers. Schools will be compelled to increase their pupil intake by 17-23 pupils in September 2011 if they’re to keep the aforementioned teachers. As most of these schools are no longer classified as developing schools, this is not a reasonable or a realistic expectation. Any previous change in the schedule involved increasing intake by a pupil or two!! This is a radical and devastating change.
Mícheál Ó Broin, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. President observed “Despite the twenty year Strategy for the Irish language and the assurances of the government that there will be no change in the pupil-teacher ratio this year, it’s clear that they didn’t have the gaelscoileanna’s best interests at heart. This decision again raises questions about the Department’s attitude to Irish-medium education. Killer blow follows killer blow. Not only are the gaelscoileanna suffering due to poor and unsuitable accommodation and lack of proper support, now the system is being shaken to its foundations by further pressure on already stretched resources. It’s scandalous and unacceptable that Irish-medium schools will suffer again.”
