IPPN

Published: 03 March 2009

Source: Irish Times

By: SEÁN FLYNN, Education Editor

THE ROW over the closure of 128 special classes intensified yesterday as the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) claimed the move breaches the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to which Ireland is a signatory.

A spokesman for Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe denied the charge, accusing the INTO of being disingenuous on the issue.

Two weeks ago the department moved to close 128 special classes for children with mild general learning disabilities in 119 primary schools throughout the country.

According to the Minister, the 528 children affected by this decision would be mainstreamed or placed in regular primary school classrooms, with extra teaching provided by a resource teacher.

The move is expected to save the exchequer some €7 million annually, but it has been severely criticised by parents.

Article 7 of the UN convention stipulates "that in all actions concerning children with disabilities, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration". Under Article 24 the Government is obliged to ensure that children with disabilities are not excluded from the general education system on the basis of disability.

Last night, INTO president Declan Kelleher said: "Supporting a policy of inclusion does not mean forcing all children with special needs into the mainstream classroom. No one has ever said that every special needs child should be integrated into mainstream classes even with additional support. The UN convention doesn't say it and neither does the Council of Europe."

Last night a ministerial spokesman said the move "far from being at odds with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities...is consistent with the objectives laid down by that important document.

He said: "Any serious scrutiny of our arguments would recognise that fact, and it is frankly disingenuous of the INTO to make claims to the contrary.

"Article 24.2 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that parties should ensure that 'effective individualised support measures are provided in environments that maximise academic and social development consistent with the goal of education'.

"That's precisely what's happening in over 3,000 primary schools all over the country.

"In every one of these classes, children with a mild general learning disability are included in ordinary classes with their friends, supported by their class teacher and their learning support teacher who can work with particular children on a one-to-one basis.''

Mr Kelleher claimed the move to close special classes was a financial decision pure and simple.

Last night, one parent, Cathy Shevlin, from Co Monaghan, said her 10-year-old son, Niall, would be one of many children affected by the new move.

Niall, who was born with congenital heart disease, has made huge progress over the last three years at a special class in Convent Primary School in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan. She said from September her son and 10 other children in the school could see their special classes abolished. In an email sent to every Dáil deputy she writes: "This is absolutely outrageous. These children are unable to integrate within the mainstream school. If they were, does the Minister not think that as parents we would have already placed them there?''

Last night a ministerial spokesman said the INTO in a recent submission to the department on the review of special needs resources appeared to accept that the current model was working well for all categories of children including those with mild general learning disabilities.