IPPN

Published: 24 October 2008

Source : Irish Times

Primary school bodies say proposed cuts will cause chaos
SEÁN FLYNN, Education Editor

PRESSURE ON the Government to reverse the education cuts is set to intensify after primary school managers said they would cause chaos in schools.

In a highly significant move, the seven management bodies of over 3,000 primary schools have come together to combat "the discriminatory and morally unsustainable'' Budget cuts.

The seven groups represent 21,000 volunteers on school boards of management upon whom the management of the primary system depends.

The Budget cuts to a chronically underfunded primary school system are, they say, counter-productive and short-sighted.

The school managers say:

• The change in substitution regulations will cause chaos in schools on a weekly basis;

• The removal of a range of supports for vulnerable children will mean that unaddressed educational needs will require greater costs in the future;

• The delivery of education to all children will be directly damaged;

• Already overburdened principals will be presented with an enormous increase in their workloads;

• School boards will not be able to fulfil their statutory obligations to parents and children to deliver the national curriculum; and

• The duty of care of boards of management to employees and children will be greatly compromised by the increase in pupil/teacher ratios and the withdrawal of substitution.

The statement was issued by the National Association of Gaelscoileanna; Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge; the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association; the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education; the Church of Ireland Board of Education; Educate Together; and the Islamic Board of Education.

School managers say the re-imposition of the cap on the allocation of language support teachers and supports for Traveller children is discriminatory and morally unsustainable.

"It dilutes scarce and precious supports to schools that are working in areas of greatest need. It singles out the most vulnerable and least politically vocal for attack. As such, it is immoral and deeply offensive to those managing schools."

The school managers say the removal of book grants for all but recognised disadvantaged schools is also a serious miscalculation.

"There are disadvantaged children in all schools. The cuts will lead to an increase in illiteracy."

The managers dispute the claim by Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe that only 200 jobs will be lost as a result of the increase in class size.

This, they say, is a gross underestimation. "A more accurate figure is 1,000 teachers to be taken out of the system. This represents a massive reduction in front-line teaching."

The removal of substitution cover for uncertified sick absences by teachers is, they say, a profoundly flawed measure which will cause chaos in schools and result in additional costs to the State.

© 2008 The Irish Times