IPPN

Published: 26 October 2005

Irish Primary Principals' Network
PRESS RELEASE

IPPN DEMANDS BASIC SAFETY FOR ONE-TEACHER SCHOOLS.

"We cannot afford to wait for a tragedy to happen in a one-teacher school. Immediate steps should be taken to appoint classroom assistants to these schools so that no teacher is left in sole charge of a group of children." Speaking on the issue of one-teacher schools, Tomás Ó Slatara, newly elected president of IPPN, insisted that this glaring health and safety issue has to be addressed immediately.

There are 20 one-teacher schools throughout Ireland. These are mostly in rural areas and play a vital and vibrant part in the communities they serve. "Twenty busy, vibrant centres of learning." according to Martina Williams of the newly formed principals support group for one-teacher schools.

Principals in these schools look after their pupils on their own and this raises a major question about the safety of the children and the unacceptable level of responsibility that is carried daily by the principal. "Perish the thought that an emergency should occur in any one of these schools! Consider the situation: a child has an accident in the playground; the teacher must attend to the needs of this child; the child may need to be brought urgently for medical treatment: who, in the meantime, is responsible for the other children? This is one of many possible scenarios that raise crucial legal and health and safety issues that need to be addressed immediately" says David Mc Veigh, Principal, Kilmactigue NS, Co Sligo.

It is estimated that the cost of implementing this measure would be not more than €400,000 per year for these schools. "A small price to pay for the health and safety of children and principals in these twenty schools" said Ó Slatara.