IPPN

15th November 2006 - How much is a childs Primary Education worth? - 77 cent a day?

Last Updated: Wednesday, 15 November 2006 00:00

How much is a child's primary education worth? - 77cent a day?

A recent survey of 200 primary schools conducted by IPPN (the Irish Primary Principals Network) has found that 97% of our primary schools do not receive enough to cover their basic running costs and 80% of schools depend on fundraising from parents to cover the shortfall.

Primary schools get €141 per child every year. This is to cover the basic costs of keeping the building open and operating so that teaching and learning can take place. It is meant to pay for heat, light, insurance, telephone, cleaning, and security as well as Art and Craft supplies, PE equipment, science materials, books, software and other educational resources for use by children.

The reality in schools, however, is very different.

The average capitation grant for the schools surveyed was €25,000. Their running costs averaged €48,000. The shortfall was €23,000 or nearly 100% of what they received from the Exchequer.

"This survey shows that our primary schools are receiving only half of what they need to operate." Said Sean Cottrell, Director of IPPN.

"Paradoxically, when a child leaves primary and starts in a second level school, the grant changes from €141 to €298. This begs the question:

Does it cost less to heat, clean and insure a building with 200 4 year olds than a building with 200 14 yr olds? "

48% of the schools surveyed operate from a bank overdraft for part or all of the school year. Schools open each year in September but do not receive the first part of their capitation grant until January.

"We are in the vicious circle that any fundraising goes into the black hole of an overdraft. The bank has refused us an extension to the overdraft facility and is looking to get us to take a Term Loan to help us." Reported one principal.

Tomás O Slatara, President of IPPN said. "If we are serious about education as a driving force for economic competitiveness, we must at a minimum double the investment in the basic running costs of schools.

Schools are depending on the goodwill and financial support of parents to keep the doors open. This is not how it should be in times of prosperity."

"Garda superintendents and chief fire officers do not have to fund raise to meet the running costs of their stations. The time and energy I spend fundraising is time lost from teaching and learning" stated one principal in the survey.

"Without fundraising and scrimping our school would not survive. Our computers are outdated and we can't afford to pay someone to maintain them not to mind replacement. I have to turn away teachers almost daily when they are looking for materials to enhance teaching and learning in the school because we don't have the money. I still have to buy blutak, paper and paint out of my own pocket so that the children do not miss out." Said another principal

Tomás O Slatara points out... "It is impossible to implement certain areas of the new curriculum without adequate funding. While this survey concentrates on basic running costs for schools, a clear picture emerges of schools starved for resources to implement the new curriculum - particularly in the area of Information and Communication Technology. I acknowledge that capitation grants have increased in recent years but the basic running costs are growing at a faster rate, and in real terms schools are becoming poorer."

IPPN Director, Seán Cottrell has called for an independent analysis of the actual running costs of schools leading to determine appropriate grant levels which should be paid to schools on a monthly basis eliminating the unnecessary costs of interest on overdrafts. "An adequate and equitable funding mechanism is essential if we are to avoid a two tier system where parents who can - provide a superior quality education for their children through private donations."

"At the moment we have been told not to buy anything before Christmas. No paper, no stamps... nothing. Perhaps we should simply close our doors when the money runs out. " commented one frustrated principal.