Campaign to save small rural schools [IrishTimes]
- Published: 11 April 2011
A MOVEMENT aimed at protecting small rural schools will be launched this evening in Co Sligo, where almost one-third of primary schools are facing a Government value-for-money review.
Appealing for the support of communities throughout the county, the organisers have predicted that up to 1,000 people will attend the “Save our Schools” public meeting.
They said 21 of the 69 primary schools in the county had fewer than 50 pupils and were therefore subject to the Department of Education review.
Parents, teachers, community leaders, representatives of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, the Gaelic Athletic Association, and the Irish Farmers’ Association, as well as Sligo-North Leitrim’s three TDs, have been invited.
June McCormack, principal of Cairns national school in Co Sligo, which has 27 pupils, said it was crucial that rural people let the Government know the important role played by schools in their communities. She said there was a danger that with the current focus on cutting costs, many small schools would be swept away in a recessionary tide, despite the damage this would do to communities.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
