How school cuts add up to misery
- Published: 04 December 2008
Source : Evening Herald
Thursday December 04 2008
MANY primary schools in Dublin stand to lose up to six staff members each because of the Budget cutbacks, a Herald survey reveals.
As teachers, pupils and teachers prepare to march on the Dail on Saturday, we found deep seated anxiety in the schools about the reality of Minister Batt O'Keeffe's cuts.
Our survey of 40 primary schools reveals that principals are desperately worried about how their schools will cope.
The biggest grievances highlighted are the removal of substitute cover for uncertified sick leave, the reduction in the number of English language teachers, the increase in class sizes and the removal of certain grants.
From January 1, schools will not be entitled to a substitute teacher to provide cover for a teacher who is absent without a medical cert.
A total of 80pc of the schools surveyed said they were most concerned about this particular issue, with principals pointing out that teachers only really take a day off when they are very ill.
Dedicated
"Teachers are a dedicated bunch, they come in when they are dying," said Bernadette Keogh, Principal Harold's Cross National School.
"And no doctor will give a medical cert for one day, so it means that teachers will have to pay €60 to get a cert for a week," she said.
Also frustrating teachers is the change in the teacher-pupil ratio, which is increasing the number of children per class.
The change in the staffing schedules sees teachers appointed to 28 child classes rather than 27 child classes.
From the survey, 62pc of principals were also concerned about the impact this would have on children and on teachers.
Out of the 40 schools in Dublin contacted, principals anticipate there will be 21 teachers who will lose their jobs.
Hindered
Most schools in the newer areas of Dublin said that they will be hindered by the cap in the number of English language teachers, which has been set at two.
And while Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe said there would be "some alleviation" for the schools with a concentration of international pupils, principals said that they had not been made aware of what this would entail.
A total of 58pc of principals interviewed also said that they were annoyed at the reduction in the various grants to assist disadvantaged students which they described as "the meanest cut" and the removal of the library grant.
The protest begins at noon at Parnell Square.
- Claire Murphy
