School cuts blow to local communities
Dublin People 27 Dec 2011
PLANS to cut teaching posts at disadvantaged primary
schools on the Southside have been met with outcry.
The backlash came after an announcement by Education
Minister Ruairi Quinn before Christmas that will see major cutbacks in some
schools across the country.
Some of the measures will include the abolition of 400
disadvantaged teacher posts and cuts in the number of resource and language
teachers.
The cuts will affect the Delivering Equality of
Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) initiative that was designed to ensure that the
most disadvantaged schools benefit from a comprehensive package of supports.
Sinn Fein’s Dublin Mid-West representative, Eoin O
Broin, said the cuts will deepen the education gap across Clondalkin, Lucan and
Palmerstown.
“The Education Minister’s plan to cut teaching posts
from DEIS schools is a devastating blow to the communities worst hit by the
recession,
? he said.
“Up to 15 schools in Clondalkin, Lucan and Palmerstown
could be directly affected.
“The Labour Party once vowed to break the cycle of
educational disadvantage created by successive Fianna Fáil led governments,
yet this decision to savage DEIS teaching supports will copperfasten inequality
of opportunity for our most deprived kids.
?
He added:
“Dublin Mid-West Fine Gael TD Derek Keating
had said he was committed to doing everything in his power to shield local
schools from cuts in the budget.
?
However, Deputy Keating said Sinn Fein needed to
understand the need to make difficult decisions at a time of serious economic
concern.
“The Government has inherited these problems, but
difficult decisions have to be made,
? he said.
“Nobody wants to make difficult
decisions. Sinn Fein can make their comments but unfortunately we have to be
real about this.
?
Deputy Keating said he had met with a number of school
representatives in an attempt to allay fears.
However, the general secretary of the INTO, Sheila
Nunan, said cuts to disadvantaged schools would severely impact on the
development skills of young children.
“Teachers are frontline when it comes to services to
disadvantaged children,
? she said.
“Every day they deal with its consequences
such as poverty, hunger, alienation, marginalisation and anti-social behaviour.
The plan to cut so many teaching jobs in these schools must be reviewed.
?
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