State's €100m funding for fee-paying schools 'must end' [Independent.ie]
- Published: 27 April 2011
THE Teachers' Union of Ireland has called for an end to "privileged payments" to fee-paying schools.
A motion passed at the TUI's annual congress in Tralee last night has called for an end to the €100m in state supports paid to fee-paying schools each year.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has already indicated he is not in favour of ending the practice, which was described yesterday as a "shameful" support of private education for privilege.
"When you have a situation whereby you have extensive and very serious cuts to the education service this payment of €100m to private, fee-paying schools is not tolerable," TUI executive committee member Gerry Quinn told the Irish Independent.
"It's not justifiable and we represent the VEC (vocational education committee) sector which includes some of the most disadvantaged schools in the country and we should be looking to strengthen supports for these students.
"It's the injustice of having these cuts on the one hand and on the other hand the same Government is funding private education."
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