Class action on cuts
- Published: 29 October 2008
By Niall Murray, Education Correspondent
THE Government's budget headaches look certain to continue beyond Christmas as its determination to push through education cutbacks brought 12,000 angry parents, children and teachers to the gates of the Dáil last night.
They delivered a strong message that the cuts will not be taken lying down but Green party backing for the measures means little chance of another budget U-turn, which would reverse the class size increases.
Among the huge crowds that arrived from around the country, while TDs debated the cuts inside the Dáil, were hundreds of primary and second-level pupils.
They heard speakers urge the Government to withdraw the cutbacks, which will also lead to possible school closures in January because of teacher substitution being withdrawn.
Teachers' Union of Ireland president Don Ryan said Finance Minister Brian Lenihan and Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe will wipe out more than 1.3 million class periods in second-level schools, as they will have hundreds of fewer teachers.
"That's no flesh wound, it's a near mortal blow to our children's future. They have cut the legs from underneath an already creaking education system," said Mr Ryan.
Irish National Teachers' Organisation general secretary John Carr said people have had enough promises from Fianna Fáil politicians after what he called an unfair, unjust and immoral budget.
"The Green leadership is supporting Fianna Fáil in attacking vulnerable children, that is some turnaround from a party whose TDs were also elected on education promises," he said.
Áine Lynch, chief executive of the National Parents Council-Primary, said families fear the increasing shortfalls faced by schools will be passed on to parents through demands for more fundraising.
Inside the Dáil, Labour party education spokesman Ruairi Quinn described Budget 2009 as an attack on children as he proposed a motion to reverse the class size increases.
"It pushes many shy, insecure four-year-old children into classes with more than 30 others and it makes it impossible for teachers to cherish all the children equally," he said, in a clear reference to the Proclamation of Independence, in contrast to Mr Lenihan's earlier budget day call to patriotism.
A vote on a government amendment to the motion will be supported by Green Party TDs today, although they were not in the Dáil to hear Mr O'Keeffe defend the cutbacks last night.
The minister rounded on the opposition and teacher unions, who have rejected his calculation that there will be 400 teaching posts lost.
"Some statements seem to be based on a scaremongering claim that there will be an actual drop of over 1,000 teachers in the schools.
"It is a disingenuous use of 'potential' additional posts that might have been created to imply a loss five times greater than the real net impact," he said.
National Alliance for Primary Education - Joint Statement on Education Budget Crisis
- Published: 28 October 2008
Education Budget is an Attack on Children
National Alliance for Primary Education
Partners Call for Massive Support for Dáil Protest
Press Release Issued Tuesday October 28th at a Joint Press Conference in Buswell's Hotel, Dublin
In a joint statement, the main partners in primary education have condemned the cuts in the Education Budget as a full-fronted attack on children and young people, and as intensely damaging to Ireland's future. The partners have demanded that the 32 cuts in the Education Budget ; 16 of them a direct attack on primary education - be withdrawn, and that the Minister should instead enter into a dialogue with all the Education Partners about where savings and efficiencies can be made. They have indicated that they are open to such a dialogue, aimed at protecting the interests of children and the future.
Attack on Children
The Education Partners have made it clear that the cuts are an 'attack on children', especially as they apply to primary education, and will have the following consequences ; all of which are in breach of the Government's own commitment, and all of which further undermine the constitutional right of every child in Ireland to a decent primary education:
1. They will drive up average class size to unacceptable levels, with inevitable consequences for the quality of education. Contrary to impressions being given, the number of teaching jobs lost will be in excess of 1,000 at the primary level alone, with many of these jobs cuts impacting on the most disadvantaged children. This situation will be further exacerbated by the removal of substitution cover for uncertified sick leave;
2. The financial shortfall will make schools far more difficult to run and manage. Many schools, already very hard-pressed, will buckle under the strain, as the totally inadequate Capitation grant increase is swallowed up by inflation. The funding crisis now facing schools will place intolerable burdens on parents, teachers, Principals and Boards of Management.
3. The withdrawal of key supports and services will have devastating consequences for children already suffering from disadvantage. Some of the particularly miserly cuts that affect children at the margins are socially irresponsible.
The organisations that have come together to make this demand are:
• An Foras Pátrúnachta
• Catholic Primary School Management Association
• Church of Ireland Board of Education
• Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo.
• Educate Together
• Gaelscoileanna
• Irish National Teachers' Organisation
• Irish Primary Principals' Network
• National Association of Management Bodies in Special Education
• National Parents' Council ; Primary
Donall O Conaill, Stiurthoir, Foras Patrunachta na Scoileanna Lan-ghaeilge Teo, said, "Surely the approach of the Government to the current financial crisis could have focused on other ways of saving money besides the ill-advised decision to row back on the achievements of recent years in Education - a return to the bad days."
Eileen Flynn, General Secretary, CPSMA said, "The children of today are the adults of tomorrow. Cuts as announced effect every child in every class now. Targeting the vulnerable, the disadvantaged, the newcomer guarantees greater costs to the taxpayer into the future. How can management deliver on its statutory function under the Education Act in a safe environment in the face of such lack of understanding of the impact of the education cuts on all concerned?"
Dúirt Treasa Ni Mhainìn, ESG Teo, "is masla an buisèad do phaistì agus muinteoirì agus is lèir nach bhfuil pùinn luach à chur ag an Rialtas seo ar thodhchaì an oideachais."
Paul Rowe of Educate Together also said, "We are in favour of increasing efficiency but these cuts will prove counterproductive and costly. Balancing the State's books at the expense of children is itself deeply offensive but the deliberate targeting of the most vulnerable children, is shameful and immoral."
Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, Ardfheidhmeannach, Gaelscoileanna Teo, said, "The education of our young is an obligation, not a luxury to be sacrificed in a rush to cut costs. The proposed cuts will damage us for a generation and cannot be allowed."
Declan Kelleher, President of the INTO, said, "The devastating proposal to increase class sizes, to what will be the largest in the EU, must be resisted by all involved in education for the sake of the pupils in our care. The range and scale of the proposed cuts in frontline services and funding shows a complete lack of understanding as to how Irish classrooms and schools operate today."
Seán Cottrell, Director of the Irish Primary Principals' Network, said, "If a colonial Government imposed this budget on us, we would describe it as an act of national sabotage by means of deliberately undermining our education system."
Philip Mudge, Vice-Chair of the National Parents Council ; Primary, said "Parents are already fundraising and paying directly for the day to day running of the school and being asked to pay for curricular activities such as arts sports and music. If the proposed budget cuts are brought in it will be the most vulnerable children in the most marginalised communities who will suffer most. We must not allow our children to be targeted in this way.
Individually, each organisation in the National Alliance will be mounting their own campaigns to secure the removal of these damaging and unacceptable cuts, and to put a meaningful dialogue in place to plan a more progressive approach. The members of the Alliance partners will support each other's campaigns, and will continue to act collectively in the interests of children and young people.
In particular, the Alliance is calling for the maximum support to be given to the rally and protest outside Dáil Eireann tomorrow, Wednesday October 29th, at 6.30pm.
ends
For further information, please contact:
John Curran, IPPN Pro (087) 2314259
Seán Cottrell, IPPN Director (086) 6478717
Larry Fleming, IPPN President (087) 2921851
IPPN Support Office 1890 21 22 23
National Alliance for Primary Education - Joint Statement on Education Budget Crisis
- Published: 28 October 2008
Education Budget is an Attack on Children
National Alliance for Primary Education
Partners Call for Massive Support for Dáil Protest
Press Release Issued Tuesday October 28th at a Joint Press Conference in Buswell's Hotel, Dublin
In a joint statement, the main partners in primary education have condemned the cuts in the Education Budget as a full-fronted attack on children and young people, and as intensely damaging to Ireland's future. The partners have demanded that the 32 cuts in the Education Budget ; 16 of them a direct attack on primary education - be withdrawn, and that the Minister should instead enter into a dialogue with all the Education Partners about where savings and efficiencies can be made. They have indicated that they are open to such a dialogue, aimed at protecting the interests of children and the future.
Attack on Children
The Education Partners have made it clear that the cuts are an 'attack on children', especially as they apply to primary education, and will have the following consequences ; all of which are in breach of the Government's own commitment, and all of which further undermine the constitutional right of every child in Ireland to a decent primary education:
1. They will drive up average class size to unacceptable levels, with inevitable consequences for the quality of education. Contrary to impressions being given, the number of teaching jobs lost will be in excess of 1,000 at the primary level alone, with many of these jobs cuts impacting on the most disadvantaged children. This situation will be further exacerbated by the removal of substitution cover for uncertified sick leave;
2. The financial shortfall will make schools far more difficult to run and manage. Many schools, already very hard-pressed, will buckle under the strain, as the totally inadequate Capitation grant increase is swallowed up by inflation. The funding crisis now facing schools will place intolerable burdens on parents, teachers, Principals and Boards of Management.
3. The withdrawal of key supports and services will have devastating consequences for children already suffering from disadvantage. Some of the particularly miserly cuts that affect children at the margins are socially irresponsible.
The organisations that have come together to make this demand are:
• An Foras Pátrúnachta
• Catholic Primary School Management Association
• Church of Ireland Board of Education
• Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo.
• Educate Together
• Gaelscoileanna
• Irish National Teachers' Organisation
• Irish Primary Principals' Network
• National Association of Management Bodies in Special Education
• National Parents' Council ; Primary
Donall O Conaill, Stiurthoir, Foras Patrunachta na Scoileanna Lan-ghaeilge Teo, said, "Surely the approach of the Government to the current financial crisis could have focused on other ways of saving money besides the ill-advised decision to row back on the achievements of recent years in Education - a return to the bad days."
Eileen Flynn, General Secretary, CPSMA said, "The children of today are the adults of tomorrow. Cuts as announced effect every child in every class now. Targeting the vulnerable, the disadvantaged, the newcomer guarantees greater costs to the taxpayer into the future. How can management deliver on its statutory function under the Education Act in a safe environment in the face of such lack of understanding of the impact of the education cuts on all concerned?"
Dúirt Treasa Ni Mhainìn, ESG Teo, "is masla an buisèad do phaistì agus muinteoirì agus is lèir nach bhfuil pùinn luach à chur ag an Rialtas seo ar thodhchaì an oideachais."
Paul Rowe of Educate Together also said, "We are in favour of increasing efficiency but these cuts will prove counterproductive and costly. Balancing the State's books at the expense of children is itself deeply offensive but the deliberate targeting of the most vulnerable children, is shameful and immoral."
Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, Ardfheidhmeannach, Gaelscoileanna Teo, said, "The education of our young is an obligation, not a luxury to be sacrificed in a rush to cut costs. The proposed cuts will damage us for a generation and cannot be allowed."
Declan Kelleher, President of the INTO, said, "The devastating proposal to increase class sizes, to what will be the largest in the EU, must be resisted by all involved in education for the sake of the pupils in our care. The range and scale of the proposed cuts in frontline services and funding shows a complete lack of understanding as to how Irish classrooms and schools operate today."
Seán Cottrell, Director of the Irish Primary Principals' Network, said, "If a colonial Government imposed this budget on us, we would describe it as an act of national sabotage by means of deliberately undermining our education system."
Philip Mudge, Vice-Chair of the National Parents Council ; Primary, said "Parents are already fundraising and paying directly for the day to day running of the school and being asked to pay for curricular activities such as arts sports and music. If the proposed budget cuts are brought in it will be the most vulnerable children in the most marginalised communities who will suffer most. We must not allow our children to be targeted in this way.
Individually, each organisation in the National Alliance will be mounting their own campaigns to secure the removal of these damaging and unacceptable cuts, and to put a meaningful dialogue in place to plan a more progressive approach. The members of the Alliance partners will support each other's campaigns, and will continue to act collectively in the interests of children and young people.
In particular, the Alliance is calling for the maximum support to be given to the rally and protest outside Dáil Eireann tomorrow, Wednesday October 29th, at 6.30pm.
ends
For further information, please contact:
John Curran, IPPN Pro (087) 2314259
Seán Cottrell, IPPN Director (086) 6478717
Larry Fleming, IPPN President (087) 2921851
IPPN Support Office 1890 21 22 23
Greens to support Govt in Dail vote on education cuts
- Published: 28 October 2008
Tuesday October 28 2008
Green TD Paul Gogarty has said his party will be voting against a Dail motion this week calling for the reversal of education cutbacks announced in this month's budget.
The party is holding a special meeting in Dublin today to discuss the cuts, which have caused major concern for many members.
However, Mr Gogarty says he is confident that the measures will be altered over time and says the Greens will not be support the Labour Party's call for the cuts to be reversed.
He says his party has let Fianna Fail know "in the strongest possible terms" that they are not happy with the plan to shed hundreds of teaching jobs and increase class sizes.
Budget bombshell is dropped on teachers
- Published: 25 October 2008
Saturday October 25 2008
The budget dropped like a bombshell for trainee teachers Aisling Ni Cheallaigh and Grace Ogle.
Just a fortnight ago, Aisling and Grace, both in their early 20s and training at the Marino Institute of Education in Dublin, looked forward to steady, secure jobs in a growing profession with a bright future. It was widely forecast that demand for teachers would grow in the coming years to cater for the increasing school-going population.
But suddenly, with the decision to increase class sizes and the possible loss of up to 2,000 teaching jobs, their prospects have been shattered.
Grace, from Co Waterford, said: "We have gone to a lot of expense to get our training as teachers. When we are qualified next year, there will be little possibility of getting a job, because of the cutbacks. It is particularly difficult, because we are trained for one profession.
"It is not like you can suddenly switch to something else."
"It is not only terrible for us,'' says Aisling from Dublin. "I feel sorry for the children who are going to be taught in overcrowded classrooms without the resource teachers and language support staff that they need.''
