Local fears over plans for rural schools amalgamation [westmeathindependent.ie]
- Published: 23 March 2011
Nine local schools have two or less teachers, according to Department
Roscommon would be one of the worst-affected counties if plans to amalgamate primary schools with less than 50 pupils go ahead.
Currently there are 41 schools listed within Roscommon that have less than 50 pupils (or less than two teachers), with six of those schools in the Athlone/South Roscommon area. There are three South Westmeath schools on the list.
There are fears that if the amalgamation plans go ahead, rural areas could lose the lifeblood of its community.
The Value for Money (VFM) review of all schools with less than 50 pupils has been established by the Department of Education to examine whether they represent value for money. The review comes after the McCarthy Report identified significant cost savings that could be achieved by reducing the overall number of schools through amalgamations and mergers.
A deadline for affected schools and parents to make submissions on the VFM review passed last Friday, but many schools in the locality were unaware of this opportunity to make a submission. The Westmeath branch of the teachers' union, the INTO, is meeting in Mullingar tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss the amalgamation issue.
Full Story: www.westmeathindependent.ie
