Social impact [Cork Independent]
- Published: 31 March 2011
An Executive of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) in Cork has called on the Department of Education to consider the devastating social impact of closing or amalgamating schools under the Value for Money (VFM) review of small primary schools.
Angela Lynch, Principal of Scoil Mhuire gan Smal in Glasheen, was one of the earlier organising committee members of the Cork IPPN, and is now a network Executive. While her school is unaffected by the review, due to its size, there are 47 primary schools with less than 50 pupils in Cork currently being reviewed.
Of the 47 small primary schools, Scoil Naomh Michael in Blackrock is the only city school on the list of schools for the year 2009/2010, with less than 50 pupils and two or less teachers. The smallest school named is the Rathduane National School in Mallow, which is listed as having eight pupils and two teachers.
The deadline for submissions from interest groups concerned about the future of small schools was Friday 18 March, however, this has since been extended. “The local school is the focus of the community, especially the rural schools. The IPPN is calling on the Department to consider, not just the value for money as recommended by the McCarthy Report, the value of the school in the community.
“This is not a black and white issue. Each school must be reviewed to consider the social impact, which could be devastating to some communities,” said Ms Lynch. She said the IPPN had commissioned research in 2005 on the future of small schools in Ireland, which she said the Department should now revisit when looking at its options.
“Schools can form a confederation, where there are a number of small schools in one area. There are options but there is no number on education and its value in the lives of the children. “We would now be looking for a discussion with the Department about those schools which are not deemed viable. Each school differs and local factors must be considered,” she said.
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