Disadvantaged school hits out at cuts

THE proposed cuts
to the student/teacher ratio in severely disadvantaged schools will have a
devastating long-term effect on pupils, according to a Northside principal.

Darndale Junior National School, which is categorised
as a Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) Band 1 school due to
its high level of disadvantage, could potentially lose six teachers as part of
the planned cuts. It is one of 32 DEIS Band 1 schools in the country.

The school’s principal, Breda Murray, said her primary
concern was for the education of the pupils who will be affected by the change
in the student/ teacher ratio increase from 15:1 to 22:1.

“This proposal is not an intelligent one for the
Department of Education to put forward,

? Ms Murray told Northside People.

Detrimental

“It may provide savings in the short-term but in the
long-term it will be detrimental to the education of so many children.

?

Ms Murray said her pupils have excelled since the 15:1
ratio was introduced some years ago.

“Our pupils were meeting the national literacy
average,

? she added.

Needs

“Our ability to structure the classes to cater for the
needs of individuals and the group of students had an obvious positive effect
on their education.

?

Mairead Baker, whose five-year-old son Dylan attends
Darndale Junior National School, said he and his school friends would find it
hard to adjust to a bigger class size.

“Kids don’t understand budget cuts and austerity
measures; all they see is that their class is bigger and they get less
one-to-one time with their teacher,

? Ms Baker told Northside People.

“I attended this school when I was younger when there
were bigger class sizes.

“The class sizes reduced when I left and when my younger
siblings attended the school.

“The difference is that I and my older siblings who
had bigger class sizes dropped out of secondary school, whereas my younger
siblings completed secondary school and even went on to college.

“I was living in Charlestown when I had my eldest son
and I specifically moved back to Coolock so that he could attend Darndale
Junior National School.

?

Positive

Ms Baker said the low student/teacher ratio has had a
remarkably positive effect on the education and stimulation of students.

“I would urge the Minister for Education to think
about how the cut will have a short-term saving and a long-term loss,

? she
added.

Under Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn’s proposal,
428 posts will be withdrawn from 270 primary and 163 post primary schools
throughout the country.

Fairness

According to Minister Quinn, the cut is aimed at
ensuring fairness in the distribution of resources so that no schools should
exceed what equivalent schools are entitled to.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education told
Northside People that all schools would be notified this month of their
staffing entitlements, including any alleviation measures that may apply.

“The creation of a new dedicated DEIS Band 1 pupil
teacher ratio of 22:1 in the budget copperfastens the more favourable staffing
allocation for these primary schools in comparison to the mainstream pupil
teacher ratio of 28:1,

? the spokesperson stated.

“While the new staffing schedule gives greater
autonomy to DEIS Band 1 schools, the schools should continue to prioritise
their staffing allocation to implement more favourable pupil/teacher ratios in
junior classes, in line with DEIS policy.

“The Government is also providing

?¬13 million in
enhanced funding and

?¬2 million in schoolbook funding for DEIS schools, as well
as a

?¬26 million investment in the Home School Community Liaison Scheme.

“In addition,

?¬28 million will be provided next year
for the School Completion Programme, a major component of DEIS, funded by the
Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

?

Artane ward councillor Larry O’Toole (SF) said the

“unjustifiable cuts

? have targeted the most deprived and disadvantaged areas.

“This follows the loss from many of these same schools
of special needs assistants, Traveller allocation teachers and language support
for the improvement in numeracy and literacy skills and a rise in the
educational attainment level of many pupils,

? he stated.

“The loss of these posts will have a serious long-term
detrimental effect on the children and local communities.

?

Fianna Fáil’s Seanad spokesperson on Education, Averil
Power, also hit out at the cuts.

“Such cuts are not just incredibly socially
regressive, they are also economically short-sighted as they will end up
costing the State a lot more in the long run,

? argued Ms Power.

“I urge the Minister for Education to see sense and
abandon these cuts immediately.

?