New primary schools will have minimum of 16 teachers
- Published: 12 September 2008
By John Walshe Education Editor
Schools of the future will be much larger, with new primaries in developing areas having a minimum of 16 teachers.
Minister Batt O'Keeffe unveiled his vision for the future of education yesterday, stating that schools should have a "critical mass" of pupils at both primary and second level.
He disclosed that in developing areas all new primary schools, in general, should have a minimum of 16 teachers.
And he will ask the Catholic Church to review the viability of their small secondary schools around the country.
But the minister has been accused of trying to stifle the growth of all-Irish and other minority schools. This follows his decision to review the criteria for recognition of new schools.
At present, the names of 17 infants have to be submitted to his department before temporary recognition is granted -- after three years, the school needs at least 53 pupils before it gets permanent recognition.
But the minister said the requirement for 17 infants was too low, and that it was inconceivable that it would continue at such a low level.
"I would have no control over my budget if any group could set up a school, willy nilly, with just 17 pupils," said the minister.
He added that, in new areas, he would prefer to see schools with at least 16 teachers. The state, he suggested, could not afford to continue to have too many small schools in expanding areas.
However, the patron body for Irish language schools said it was strongly opposed to such a move.
Donall O'Conaill, director for Foras Patrunachta na Scoileanna Lan-Gaeilge Teo, said the requirement was much lower in Northern Ireland at only 12 infants. The body representing 140 Gaelscoileanna also sharply criticised the minister.
Church of Ireland education spokesman Rev John McCullough said it would be very unfair if the minister were not going to consider smaller but viable schools for the Protestant community.
Meanwhile, Mr O'Keeffe has confirmed that he is willing to meet Catholic Church education groups who want to set up new voluntary secondary schools. As disclosed in the Irish Independent, they feel "sidelined" by the department in the planning of new second-level schools.
Conspiracy
He said he categorically denied that there was any "conspiracy" within the department in relation to patronage of new schools, and that he appreciated the role that the Church had played in education.
The minister would welcome consultation but added that no application for a new secondary school had been made by the Church which, he noted, had asked that VECs take over their schools in a number of areas.
He would be asking the Church to look at the long-term viability of some of their smaller schools.
In terms of new schools, he was definitely not tied to any model and any existing patron was free to apply.
The minister said that he would ask the Church to "marry" the separate statements made by Bishop Leo O'Reilly and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on diversity as
