PROTECT the PTR in our Gaelscoileanna!
March 10, 2011
The ‘Cosain an Cóimheas!’ campaign to protect the Pupil-Teacher ratio in Irish-medium schools will be launched next Tuesday, March 15th in Dublin. GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. are organising music and dancing outside Dáil Éireann, Kildare St. at 11.30a.m. to draw attention to the damage the Deaprtment of Education has done to Irish-medium schools by raising the Pupil-Teacher ratio. Immediately before this at 11.00a.m. the campaign will be launched at a press event in Áras na Comhdhála, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, 46 Kildare St. Dublin.
Come along on the day and support our cause!
What is the issue?
The Department of Education and Skills is raising the Pupil-Teacher Ratio (P.T.R.) in gaelscoileanna from this coming September. In some cases schools will require 20 extra pupils to maintain their current staffing levels. Previous increases in the P.T.R. for all schools required an extra 1 or 2 pupils!
Why did gaelscoileanna have a more favourable pupil-teacher ratio?
There was a sound educational and linguistic basis for a more favourable pupil-teacher ratio which recognised the greater challenges facing small and developing gaelscoileanna, challenges which included implementation of a full curriculum through Irish and the inequalities pertaining to resources and other supports for these schools.
This favourable pupil-teacher ratio applied to every gaelscoil?
No, only to those with 3 to 9 teachers, to support them in the critical phase of their development.
There was an educational basis for this change therefore?
No. The Department’s decision was based on a monetary rather than an educational basis.
What will be the result of this decision?
Many schools will lose one classroom teacher; in some cases two posts will be lost and administrative principals will have to return to the classroom. Class sizes will increase and many classes will have to
be split and mixed as a result.
The all-party ‘20 Year Plan for Irish’ recognised the central role of gaelscoileanna, did it not?
It did.
So, gaelscoileanna have proper support and receive fair play?
No, unfortunately. 75% of the schools affected by this decision are in temporary and/or unsuitable accommodation, many of them for a long period of time. Some schools in designated disadvantaged areas do not have the supports associated with having disadvantaged status despite neighbouring schools having such status. This decision is yet another attack on Irish-medium schools.
What is required therefore?
The immediate reversal of this oppressive decision and fair play for Irish-medium education.
Information leaflet and poster available to download here:
