DONEGAL North East TD,
Pádraig MacLochlainn has warned that schools in
Buncrana and Moville could lose teachers under
proposals to increase the pupil-teacher ratio for
Irish-medium schools.
Deputy MacLochlainn called on Education Minister
Ruairí Quinn to ensure the proposal "is stopped in
its tracks".
"The proposal to increase the pupil-teacher ratio in
Irish-medium schools to that of mainstream schools
will be detrimental for Gaelscoileanna and will
result in job losses for teachers, larger class
sizes and a complete dilution of the effectiveness
of the immersion experience for the pupil.
"Two Inishowen schools, Gaelscoil Bhun Cranncha and
Gaelscoil Cois Feabhail will be affected by this
proposal. In the case of Gaelscoil Bun Cranncha,
they will lose two teachers which will have a hugely
negative knock-on effect. Both schools are presently
seeking to relocate to new buildings, with student
numbers outgrowing their present locations." The
local Sinn Féin TD added: "The proposal takes no
regard of the challenges facing Irish-medium schools
including implementing an entire curriculum through
the medium of Irish and coping with dwindling
resources and inadequate accommodation.
"I am asking the new Government and Education
Minister, if they are serious about the Irish
language and Irish-medium schools, to step up and
stop this flawed proposal in its tracks." |
