National protest to protect small schools
February 21, 2012
Thousands of people will gather around the country this week in opposition to the cuts to small schools proposed in the December’s Budget.
Two national days of protest against the cuts have been organsied by the various organisations involved and are due to take place this week.
Members of DEIS schools will gather at the Dáil at 3.30 pm on Thursday, 23rd February. A large group is expected on the day in addition to several other protests by DEIS schools that will take place around the country.
The second day of protests will occur on Saturday, 25th February and is being organised by the Save Our Small Schools campaign and various branches of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO). Save Our Small Schools has established many groups throughout the country in recent times, as a result of the proposed cuts and crowds are expected to gather in Kerry, Clare, Waterford, Donegal and Galway on the day. 150 schools and 3000 people are expected to take to the streets of Castlebar on Saturday where the group will march on the constituency office of An Taoiseach to demonstrate their opposition to the proposed cuts.
Branches of the INTO will march around the country on Saturday including Craobh an Earagail in Gaoth Dobhair. They will gather at An Screabán (the office of Roinn na Gaeltachta) at midday and they are urging members of all local schools, boards of management, parents and staff to join them on the day.
The cuts proposed in last December’s Budget will result in the number of pupils required for a four-teacher school increasing from 81 to 83 students. For Gaeltacht schools, the number would raise from 76 to 86 by 2014, a hike that will require 10 extra pupils for each Gaeltacht school to preserve their four-teacher status.
GAELPORT
