Education cuts reflect this government's lack of Vision
Posted by Alan Kelly on November 26, 2008 at 03:44 PM
Pictured with Nenagh Mayor Virginia O'Dowd at the protest over the Government's education cuts at primary and secondary level.
Over the last few weeks, I have spoken to teachers, members of boards of management and parents and they cannot understand why this government are picking on children. Fianna Fail promised to cut class numbers to 20/1 in 2002 and to 24/1 in 2007 in their election manifestos and here they are increasing them to 28/1. We have the highest class sizes in the EU and this Government have shown that they are willing to make children and their teachers suffer for their complete mismanagement of the economy. Despite their promises, they are targeting the most vulnerable.
Teachers are very upset at this development with schools losing a number of teachers, depending on their enrolement numbers. These teachers are settled in schools and expected that they would be staying in their positions. It is also unacceptable that resource teaching grants are being cut; while from 1 January there will be no substitute teachers available if a teacher is out sick. Furthermore, the school books scheme and funding for school libraries are being drastically cut.
And that's just at primary and secondary level. Registration fees for third level have been dramatically increased and are really only 3rd level fees by the back door. The latter are under consideration by this Government.
Where is the vision from this Government? They are stymieing the development of our children and their potential to contribute to our future economy. I have had a huge volume of parents, teachers and students on to me in relation to these cuts. I have attended a number of rallies in Cork and Dublin and other meetings in opposition to them and the message is the same - don't pick on the most vulnerable people in our society - our children. Don't sacrifice their futures for short term gains.
This week I attended a meeting on Monday (Nov 24th) with regard to the school capital projects under the auspices of North Tipperary VEC. Four projects here (Nenagh, Borrisokane, Roscrea and Templemore) are not moving. The conditions that the students in these schools are been thought in is terrible. For instance in Nenagh VEC, the Principal actually spends his spare time repairing the school himself - that's how bad it has got - and he has been at that for years. There is a mythical line in the metalwork room which students dare not cross in case they get electrocuted from the water dropping from the roof into the machines below.
On Tuesday (Nov 25th) I attended a large meeting in Thurles of 6 primary schools who came together to get organised about these cuts and I was energised by how outspoken the people were against these cuts and this government. What will happen to small schools that will not get substitute cover when a teacher is sick? One Principal replied very simply ‘we will just have to close'. Is that what we have come to in this country in 2008?
During my EU campaign travels I met with the staff of Clonakilty Gael Scoil. They have been waiting for a new school for over a decade. They currently reside in prefabricated buildings and the rent of these along with the land costs €300,000 per annum. It makes no sense to be paying this kind of money annually. The Government need to be innovative in their thinking.
I was part of the Labour party team that published our recent economic proposals and in that we proposed a radical school building programme that would ensure badly needed schools were built and consequently some of the slack in the construction industry would be taken up, thereby avoiding increased social welfare claims and bringing in much needed tax revenue. That was and remains a positive proposal. This Government should take it.
Permanent link | Categories: Education • Protests • Virginia O'Dowd • Templemore • Roscrea • Nenagh • Borrisokane • EU • Schools
