Deis protesters picket Department of Education
January 20, 2012
BETWEEN 3,000 and 4,000 parents, children, teachers and principals of disadvantaged schools protested loudly, with music and hundreds of home-made, multi-coloured banners outside the Department of Education yesterday, against proposed cuts to teacher numbers.
Though Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn has described as a “mistake” the announcement of cuts to Deis (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), and had ordered a review of the plan, protesters demanded a complete, irrevocable reassurance the cuts would not happen.
Some 428 teaching posts were to be cut under measures announced in December’s Budget.
Among those who addressed the crowd from the front of the Pro Cathedral was Gearóid Conarain, whose youngest daughter, Pippa Ní Conarain (9), is a pupil at Scoil Santain in Tallaght.
“We are not having these cuts. We are asking for a full shift back. We will not go away,” he said.
Noreen Flynn, president of the Irish National Teachers Organisation, said if “this Government wants to show its commitment to children it should take away the tax loopholes that the wealthy enjoy”. The money raised should be used to educate and provide jobs for young people. Tax those who can afford it,” she said.
Michelle Mallon, a mother with children in Scoil An tSeachtar Laoch in Ballymun, addressed the crowd, saying the children at the school “really need the support” they had got.
Marie O’Grady, with children in St Enda’s Primary School in Whitefriar Street, said children there would not make it to secondary school or college without such supports.
“Our children don’t have loans with banks. Our children don’t have property developments. Our children don’t play golf. So why do they have to pay for the mistakes of bankers and developers?”
In the crowd was Wilhelmina Maher, whose two children attend Our Lady of Victories Infant National School in Ballymun. “At the moment they have third and fourth class together because of a shortage of teachers. I am very worried about what the cuts would mean.”
There were banners from schools in Darndale, Fairview, Cherry Orchard, Jobstown, Ballyfermot, Ballymun, Coolock, Artane, Pimlico, Tallaght, Finglas and Clondalkin.
Children held up placards including “What’s the Story Rúairí?”; “Hey, Rúairí, leave us kids alone”; and, “What would Jim Larkin say?”
IRISH TIMES
Traditional ways of teaching still prevail, says study
January 19, 2012
TRADITIONAL METHODS of teaching still dominate in Irish primary schools with relatively little group work or active learning, according to a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute.
The study concludes that female pupils and those attending fee-paying or Gaelscoileanna are more likely to experience more active learning in their classroom than other children.
The finding points out how the 1999 Primary Curriculum focuses on children as active learners. Despite this, it says “more traditional teaching approaches remain dominant.
Whole-class teaching continues to be commonplace, with much less use of active learning methods (such as group-work) than had been envisaged.”
Younger teachers, it concludes, are more likely to use more active methodologies in the classroom than more experienced teachers.
But more active teaching methods are much less prevalent in larger classes, indicating the constraints caused by class size.
The study also points to significant differences in how pupils spend their school day. Girls in single-sex primary schools spend more time on religious education, but their male counterparts in single-sex schools spend more time on physical education, history and geography.
Broadly, the nine-year-olds surveyed spent most time at school learning English, maths, Irish and religion. But the mix offered to pupils depended on the type of school attended.
There is large variation across schools, and within schools, in the time allocated to particular subject areas. This may mean that some students spend significantly less time than their peers on subjects such as mathematics.
More experienced teachers were much more likely to spend greater amounts of time on English, Irish and mathematics.
Pupils in Gaelscoileanna are more likely to experience a broad curriculum. The report points to “striking disengagement levels” among children with special educational needs. It also finds boys are more likely than girls to be disengaged and more negative about literacy-based subjects.
The report shows how children’s experiences of school vary quite dramatically depending on the school they attend and the teacher they have.
Dr Selina McCoy of the Economic and Social Research Institute said the report highlighted significant variation in the types of teaching and learning experiences primary school children have.
While this reflects schools and teachers adapting timetabling and teaching approaches to the perceived needs of different students, the report points to the need to balance this flexibility at the school level with ensuring that all children have exposure to varied subjects and methods. The report is based on data gathered through a wider survey about the lives and attitudes of nine-year-olds here.
The study finds nine-year-olds are broadly positive about school and their teachers. The Primary Classroom: Insights From the Growing Up In Ireland Study is published jointly by the institute and National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
Irish Times
Irish Language groups criticise new funding model based on tenders
January 19, 2012
Irish Language groups criticise new funding model based on tenders
A new funding mechanism being introduced by Foras na Gaeilge has been strongly criticised by the 19 Irish language promotion organisations that receive their core funding from the body.
Foras na Gaeilge, a North/South implementation body set up under the Belfast Agreement, has a role in advising the administrations North and South in matters relating to the Irish language.
It also channels state funding to Irish language organisations throughout the island of Ireland.
Following concerns in recent years over increased administration costs at the core-funded organisations, the Foras has been trying to replace the grant-in-aid system with a system of competitive tendering for funding.
Under the new system all the current core-funding would cease and the organisations, all of which are not-for-profit, would have to compete on a three-yearly basis in a quasi-market for funds to implement one of eight schemes planned by the Foras.
The affected organisations say this would result in a commercialisation of a sector which is currently community-based and that they will not be in a position to survive without State funding.
Conradh na Gaeilge general secretary Julian de Spáinn said the new approach would ensure that instead of working together, Irish language organisations would now be set in competition against each other.
Mr de Spáinn believes it could result in the destruction of the Irish language movement.
Under the proposed funding method, all language strategy would be decided by Foras and the role of the organisations would be to achieve objectives and targets set by Foras.
Mr de Spáinn said the organisations were “more than happy” to sit down with the Foras and Government departments to see how they could work together to achieve greater effectiveness.
He warned that the work and services currently offered by grassroots Irish language organisations would come under threat if the new funding system were introduced.
The 19 organisations which are affected by the change, including Conradh na Gaeilge, said in a statement this week that the introduction of the new funding model will have a “detrimental and irreversible effect” on the Irish language.
“Under the new proposals, Foras na Gaeilge would see organisations dismiss all staff whose positions are funded by Foras na Gaeilge”, the statement said.
“Overnight, years of experience and expertise would be lost. A contract worker could never gain as much experience and expertise. On top of this, the Irish language would no longer be seen as a viable career choice”, it warned.
The organisations are seeking to engage with Foras na Gaeilge to come up with a new work model which they say would benefit the language throughout the island and encourage the use of Irish “on an agreed and planned basis.”
SDLP spokesman for the Irish language Dominic Bradley called yesterday on both sides to negotiate. He said he had spoken to both sides and the dispute was an issue “of concern for the cause of Irish on the island of Ireland”.
There was room for compromise, Mr. Bradley said, as considerable savings could be achieved by the organisations in question and that these options should be explored further.
A spokesman for Foras na Gaeilge said the body was happy to sit down with the organisations at any time.
Breandán McCraith said the existing system was not sustainable and that Foras had no choice but to change the funding mechanism following a direction by the North-South Ministerial Council “and that is why we are taking this route”.
The Irish Times
‘Cúis bhuartha’
January 18, 2012
Opposition to Irish language merger
January 6, 2012
A chara,
We, as members of the Irish language community both within and outside of the Gaeltacht, expect that the Government will change its decision to merge the functions of the Language Commissioner with the Ombudsman Office in 2012 and are calling on the Government to make that change now rather than dragging out the process and further damaging the effectiveness of the office.
The language commissioner has been widely recognised as a highly efficient and dynamic commissioner who has been praised not only for his work in defending citizens’ rights but also for being a proactive advocate of best language practice. A recent example of this would be the highly attractive module on general language rights that his office recently developed for use in transition year at second level.
We now know that the decision, as admitted by the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht in the Dáil on November 24th, could actually cost the state money. The decision also did not take in to account the fact that the current language commissioner has been reappointed until 2016 as an independent commissioner and therefore could open the State to the risk of legal action which could cost the State even more money. Indeed, An Bord Snip Nua when it looked at the office identified no efficiencies to be made and made no recommendation to alter the status of the office of the language commissioner as an independent office.
All political parties and the Irish language and Gaeltacht organisations have backed the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2012-2030. We acknowledge that funding will be a problem in the short term, but why undermine the strategy and the goodwill behind it with this decision that has been acknowledged as having no savings to make to the exchequer?
We believe that the Government should look at the economic arguments coupled with the wishes and the belief of the Irish language community both within and outside of the Gaeltacht that the office of the language commissioner should be supported, that it has our trust and that it has been a very effective service since been set up in 2004.
Reversing their decision is therefore the logical and correct thing to do and should be done without delay. – Is muidne,
AODÁN Mac AN MHÍLIDH, Gaeilge Átha Luain; AOILEANN Nic DHONNACHA; BLÁTHNAID Ní GHRÉACHÁIN, Gaelscoileanna Teo; BREANDÁN Mac GEARAILT, Ball d’Údarás na Gaeltachta; CABRÍNÍ de BARRA, Comhlucht Forbartha na nDéise CAITLÍN NEACHTAIN, Bainisteoir, Comharchumann Dhúiche Sheoigheach; CAOIMHÍN Ó HEAGHRA, An Foras Pátrúnachta; CARMEL Nic EOCHAIDH, Spleodar; COLM Mac SÉALAIGH; CONCHUBHAIR Mac LOCHLAINN, Seachtain na Gaeilge; SEOSAIMH Ó CONCHUIR, Cumann Cearta Sibhialta Ghaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne; ROIBEARD Ó HEARTÁIN PÁID Ó NEACHTAIN, Cumann na nOifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge (Earnáil Phoiblí); DONNCHA Ó hÉALLAITHE; DONNCHADH Ó hAODHA, Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge; ÉAMONN Mac NIALLAIS, Guth na Gaeltachta; EITHNE O’DOHERTY, Craobh na gCeithre Chúirteanna; EOIN Ó RIAIN; FEARGAL Ó CUILINN, Comhluadar; GARY REDMOND, Uachtarán Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn; GEARÓID Ó MURCHÚ, An Spailpín Fánach; JULIAN de SPÁINN, Aontas Phobal na Gaeilge; LIAM Ó MAOLAODHA, Oireachtas na Gaeilge; LORCÁN Mac GABHANN, Glór na nGael;MAEDHBH Ní DHÓNAILL, Ógras; MÁIRTÍN Ó MAOLMHUAIDH, Gaelphobal Cheantar an tSratha Báin; MÍCHEÁL de MÓRDHA, Uachtarán an Oireachtais 2010; NIALL COMER, Uachtarán, Comhaltas Uladh; PÁDRAIG Mac FHEARGHUSA, Fóram Gaeilge Chiarraí; PEADAR de BLÚIT, Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn; ROBBIE CRONIN, an chéad ionadaí don Ghaeilge thar cheann an ASTI; RUTH Ní SHIADHAIL, Gaeilge Locha Riach SEÁN Ó MURCHADHA, Craobh Mhuineacháin Conradh na Gaeilge, C/o Sráid Fhearchair, Baile Átha Cliath 2.
IRISH TIMES
Year in, year out
January 4, 2012
It wasn’t a great year in Irish education, and things may get worse before they get better. So who made waves in 2011, who is waving it good riddance, and who is set to make an impact in 2012? SEÁN FLYNN, Education Editor, makes 10 predictions
WHAT NEXT? EDUCATION IN 2012
1 Ruairí Quinn will continue to dominate the agenda
Quinn has had a very good eight months as Minister for Education. He has been energetic and reforming, and has brought a critical perspective to Irish education, describing the disappointing OECD rankings as a “wake-up call” for the education system.
Critically, he has also encouraged senior Department officials to engage in some (long overdue ) “blue-sky’’ thinking on issues such as school patronage, exam reform, school admission policies and accountability.
There was very serious blip – that embarrassing pre-election pledge in which he ruled out fees – but otherwise Quinn has been one of the most innovative and impressive education ministers in a generation.
Many in education would like him to complete a full five-year term. He has already signalled he will remain in Marlborough Street until the mid-term Cabinet reshuffle, probably in the summer of 2013. Despite his age – Quinn is 65 – he still harbours ambitions of becoming the first Labour Party member to be appointed as Ireland’s EU commissioner. And it could happen.
2 We will find out how standards in our primary schools compare with abroad
Last April, the international assessments on maths, literacy and science took place in a number of randomly selected primary schools in fourth class. Results will be available sometime in 2012. Almost all schools invited to participate did so and there was also a very high return rate on the questionnaires. Results are eagerly awaited.
3 The new Secretary General of the Department of Education will be under pressure to deliver
The OECD ranking which tracked the steep decline in literacy standards in Ireland will dominate the agenda of the new secretary general. Those dismal OECD results (which also delivered poor results in maths and science) came after a decade of unprecedented investment in Irish education and the recruitment of thousands of teachers. The new secretary general – due to be named early in 2012 – will be under pressure to raise Ireland’s game.
4 Irish universities will continue to slide down the rankings
Six of the seven Irish universities slipped in the world rankings this year. For the first time Ireland has no university in the world top 100. Expect a further drop in 2012 as more cutbacks at a time of record student enrolment edges the system close to breaking point.
5 The following people will make a big impact
Aodhan O Riordan, labour backbencher who has the ear of Ruairí Quinn. Stephen Donnelly, Harvard educated independent TD, exceptionally well-informed on education issues. Philip Nolan, new president of NUI Maynooth, former deputy president at UCD.
6 Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act will come under increasing scrutiny Gay and bisexual teachers feel threatened by this law which could allow school managements to dismiss teachers in order to protect their ethos.
7 Speculation will begin about Hugh Brady’s successor as UCD president
Brady is due to retire in 13 months. Early frontrunners to succeed him include; Mark Rogers, Registrar Deputy President; Ciarán ÓhÓgartaigh, head of the College of Business; and Des Fitzgerald, vice president, Research. But will any current university presidents apply?
8 The Easter teacher conferences will be uneventful
You’ve heard of a conference in search an agenda? That could be the case at the teacher conferences next year. With the Croke Park Agreement in place until 2014, there are no live pay issues and little else which will draw headlines.
9 Progress on a change in school patronage will be painfully slow
Ruairí Quin says he hopes 1,500 Catholic primary schools will be divested. But with public opinion to be canvassed and legal issues to be addressed we could be waiting.
10 Leaving and Junior Cert will be distracted by wild public celebrations
as Robbie Keane scores for Ireland against Spain in Euro 2012. The exams begin in early June just as the soccer championship kicks off.
Seán Flynn’s Winners in Education 2011 . . .
The Irish language lobby Fought a brilliant rearguard action when FG hinted at the abolition of compulsory Irish during the election campaign.
Student leader Gary Redmond Used every opportunity to remind the public of that pre-election pledge by Ruairí Quinn in which he ruled out fees. Redmond’s pressure pushed the return of old fashioned fees (of over €5,000) off the political agenda.
Educate Together The multi denominational group won the right to establish second-level schools, and is now the fastest growing school patron in Ireland .
Parents of special needs children Marginalised for years by the education establishment, this group has emerged as a strong lobby. Managed to retain most SNA’s in schools – despite pressure to maintain the “cap’’ introduced by the last government.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) The Hunt Report on Third Level was expected to see the HEA integrated into the DoE, but an energetic lobbying campaign by HEA chair Tom Boland produced a different outcome – the authority was given an expanded role.
And losers . . .
Guidance counsellors, disadvantaged schools and 23,000 primary school children studying modern languages These groups suffered the most controversial budget cuts. And there is no sign of any u-turn – yet.
The international reputation of Irish universities Irish colleges continued to slip down the world rankings, with only UCC bucking the trend.
Fee paying schools Ruairí Quinn increased class size in the Budget for these schools. The media also raised awkward questions about the €100 million in State support and the admission policies of some schools.
Dublin Institute of Technology The dream of a new DIT campus in Grangegorman lives on, but with a multi-million-euro hole in funding it may be difficult to realise.
The Teachers’ Union of Ireland The union backtracked on its opposition to the Croke Park agreement after the DoE threatened to sack lectureres. There was also a civil war among executive members and controversy about a Bangkok conference attended by general secretary Peter McMenamin, who retires shortly.
EDUCATION IN 2011
The following were the most popular articles on Education Today this year
1 The 50 most influential in education
Ruairí Quinn topped list which also included the Troika, Colm McCarthy, Andreas Schleicher of the OECD and the US multinationals. Only five women made the list.
2 “I was lectured on my sexuality’’
An article for the To Be Honest column drew an extraordinary response from readers. The following is an extract: “ I write as one of a large group of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people who works as a primary teacher in a Catholic school in this country. Given my sexual orientation (about which I am open), I am subjected to the following on a daily basis.
“I must participate in and teach a religion I don’t believe in. I must uphold the Catholic ethos of the school by not discussing my sexuality beyond close friends on the staff. As the teachers’ representative on the board of management, I must partake in prayers at the start of each meeting, which goes against my own belief system.”
3 Who are the top earners in higher education?
Two-page survey drew a strong response from readers – both positive and negative. The survey showed the top earners in the sector are virtually all senior administrators or medical consultants. Many of the consultants also run private practices, a situation prohibited in Britain.
4 ‘Still waiting for a classroom’
My Education Week by Maria Brett (below) a fourth-year student at Coláiste Mhuire, Marino was a big hit with readers. Maria wrote: “All I know is, I didn’t get into teaching because I wanted moneymoon or summer holidays or sick leave. I want to be in a classroom with a load of kids and I want to try out all that I have learned in the past three years. I want the fun and challenge and satisfaction of teaching. I want it now, and it’s frustrating that I can’t have it.
“I am not the only graduate out there looking for work in uncertain times, however. Being a teacher doesn’t make me any different, I suppose.
“Tonight I will put it all aside for a few hours at Culchie Central, otherwise known as Copper Face Jacks. It will be full of unemployed teachers like me, spending the few pence they haven’t already committed to envelopes and shoe shine. I won’t be talking about the redeployment panel or the cost of a stamp.’’
5 George Hook: In defence of fee-paying schools
Hook wrote: “Is the system elitist? Yes it is. But the world is based on elitism of talent, intelligence, hard work and willingness to sacrifice. Every day, parents are making monumental sacrifices to give their children the best education possible. Quinn and his fellow travellers want a system that is doomed to failure.’’
BY THE NUMBERS
110,000 The estimated number of unemployed graduates in Ireland
400 The number of applications for one full-time teaching post in a Dublin primary school this year
191 The number of academics in higher education who earn over 150k per year
26 The percentage of teachers in Ireland who have not received any appraisal or feedback in their schools, according to OECD.
16 The percentage of students who took higher-level maths in the 2011 Leaving Cert – the lowest figure since records began
MEDIA MATTERS
BEST TV
Educating Essex (Channel 4) Honest, unobtrusive view of life in a modern secondary school.
BEST BOOKS
Upstart Ed Walsh’s perceptive, often very funny memoir on the making of UL.
To Miss With Love British teacher Katharine Birbalsingh controversdial take on what she regards as the damage done by the liberal agenda in British schooling.
Finnish Lessons Brilliant analysis by Finnish academic Pasi Salhlberg on the best education system in the world.
BEST BLOG
Now principal of Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, occasional Irish Times columnist Ferdinand von Prondzynski’s blog (universitydiary.wordpress.com) remains essential reading.
MY EDUCATION YEAR – GRÁINNE FALLER
Highlight Braving a stormy drive cross-country to visit Coláiste Chiaráin in Croom, Co Limerick. A successful, vibrant school, driven by a real sense of fairness and a can-do attitude.
Lowlight Probably seeing that, hidden among all of the cuts, the hugely successful Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative has been given the axe. Its a massive blow to what should have been a huge step forward. We talk about science and maths, but fluency in other languages is a massive skills gap in Ireland.
Wish for 2012 That patronage and enrolment issues can be sorted out for once and for all.
Gráinne Faller qualified as a primary school teacher in Froebel College of Education and completed a masters in journalism in DIT. She juggles journalism and research with looking after her gorgeous toddler and a neurotic dog called George. She enjoys knitting and is one of (presumably) very few people who can speak both Irish and Swahili.
MY EDUCATION YEAR – LOUISE HOLDEN
Highlight Ruairí Quinn in the Department of Education.
Lowlight SNA provision under pressure in schools.
Wish for 2012 A school patronage solution that works for everyone. Progressive change to the constitution on the issue of childrens rights.
Louise Holden is the mother of two primary school children, Ruben and Lucille. She sings and writes music with roots band I Draw Slow, who released their second album, Redhills , in May. Louise has a Masters in Education from UCD; her research interests include the influence of the media on Irish education discourse
MY EDUCATION YEAR
Highlight How e-learning is finally making major inroads in Irish education, and the long overdue decision to scrap Fás.
Lowlight The insistence of some top academics and senior administrators in quangos that they deserve salaries of €100,000, €150,000 or more, when the most vulnerable students – travellers, dyslexics, and other special needs children – have had to endure cuts that in some instances will damage or destroy their chance of a decent education.
Wish for 2012 An end to a rote-learning Leaving Certificate that completely fails to prepare students for the independent thinking and critical reflection required at third-level.
Opportunities for PhD in the sciences. The majority of recent graduates have little or no opportunity for meaningful work here, despite government rhetoric. The brain drain continues.
Peter McGuire is a freelance journalist. He edits and writes for Cheapeats.ie, a food blog. He is also a lecturer in Irish Folklore at UCD.
IRISH TIMES
Cut in modern language support
December 12, 2011
Sir, – We are dismayed to hear of the abrupt decision to abolish the Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative announced last Tuesday and to divert its funding to the literacy and numeracy programme.
While we appreciate the concern of the Department of Education and Skills with literacy and numeracy, we believe cutting the €2.5 million being used to teach a range of modern foreign languages in more than 500 primary schools nationwide will unnecessarily restrict opportunities for Irish children. Indeed, this cut will impact on children at the age when they are most receptive to language learning.
Research has shown that the learning of modern languages promotes literacy and enhances children’s reading readiness. Principals and teachers involved in the MLPSI have testified that the learning of a third language has not only increased learners’ appreciation of Irish, but has also led to improved performance across all subjects.
Ireland’s export-dependent economy needs increased modern language competence at all levels of education, in a century where English will not be enough. From now on, those who speak another world language in addition to English will have a significant competitive edge, within Europe and beyond.
As everyone knows, languages cannot be learned overnight, and neither can cultural awareness. Nurturing language capacity from an early age in our schools is one way to ensure that Ireland’s linguistic and cultural gifts are developed for the future.
The saving involved in this cut does not justify restricting our children’s potential and some way must be found to reverse this regressive decision. – Yours, etc,
GOSIA BARKER, Lecturer in English as a Foreign Language and Linguistics;
MARIE-THÉRÈSE BATARDIÈRE, Lecturer in French,
NÚRIA BORRULL, Language Teacher, Spanish;
ANGELA CHAMBERS, Prof of Applied Languages;
YVONNE CLEARY, Lecturer in Technical Communication;
JEAN CONACHER, Senior Lecturer in German;
CIARA CONSIDINE, Aonad na Gaeilge;
SÍLE de CLÉIR, Léachtóir sa Ghaeilge;
JOACHIM FISCHER, Senior Lecturer in German;
BARBARA GERAGHTY, Lecturer in Japanese;
CATHERINE JEANNEAU Language Resources;
ANN MARCUS QUINN, National Digital Learning Repository;
MARGARET MILLS HARPER, Glucksman Professor of Contemporary Writing in English;
DEIRDRE Ní LOINGSIGH, Stiúrthóir na Gaeilge, UL;
TADHG Ó hIFEARNÁIN, Léachtóir Síseartha sa Ghaeilge;
CINTA RAMBLADO, Lecturer in Spanish
NANCY SERRANO, Lecturer in Spanish.
C/o School of Languages, Literature, Culture and Communication, University of Limerick, Limerick.
Irish Times – Litir chuig an Eagarthóir
All-Irish school to close despite Minister’s views
December 12, 2011
An All-Irish national school has been told it is closing less than seven weeks after Minister for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley told its centenary celebration he hoped it would remain open for another 100 years.
The letter to close the Meenamara school 3km from Loughanure, Co Donegal, arrived on Thursday.
Parents at a meeting with the school board on Thursday night remembered the words of local TD Mr McGinley on the night of the celebration on October 22nd.
One parent said: “He was full of praise for the school and spoke very favourably about its ethos and said he hoped it will remain open for another 100 years. And now we are told by the Department of Education that we are to close at the end of this school year.”
Although it is a mixed education school, the only pupils are seven girls. It once had more than 60 pupils, including in its early days Seamus Ó Grianna, a writer widely read by learners of Irish during the 20th century.
School principal Bernie Ní Dhuibhir said: “We were devastated when we received the letter.”
The Irish Times
Reaction to Budget 2012
December 9, 2011
A chara, – The national average for the number of children learning in primary classrooms of more than 30 pupils currently stands at one in five. The average figure for Co Meath is one in four. This country now has the second highest class sizes in Europe.
The Budget has inflicted more hardship on the primary education system with the regressive introduction of an increased pupil-teacher ratio for every school with less than 100 students. This will result in the closing down of many rural schools and the subsequent loss of up to 100 teaching posts.
The shutting down of small country schools and Garda stations for economic expedience is a short-sighted act. There are many cultural, social and economic reasons to support these local services. Remote Gaeltacht communities in particular, will be worst affected by this measure. This is yet another slight upon ár dteanga dúchais agus chultúir. With hundreds of jobs in education already lost due to the economic crisis and with a projected figure of more than 25,000 new pupils expected to enrol in primary schools during the next three years, the outlook appears bleak.
Ireland will continue to be harmed economically and socially unless education is dramatically improved for all children in every corner of this island, in both rural and urban communities. Further meddling in the pupil-teacher ratio will cause more harm than good. – Is mise,
COLIN QUIGLEY,
Chairman,
INTO Athboy/Trim,
Steeple Manor,
Trim, Co
Meath.
The Irish Times – Litir chuig an Eagarthóir
Oíche Íosagáin
December 7, 2011
