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Bord Snip could hit Inishowen
schools
24.07.09
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent
LAST WEEK’S An Bord Snip Nua report, which includes
sweeping cuts in education among its proposals for
easing the burden on the pubic finance, has caused a
ripple of concern among parents and teachers worried
about what the implications might be for local
schools. A major fear is that the government will
use the report to press for the closure of small and
rural schools around the country. One teacher at a
Malin parish school said it wasn’t the first time
that schools their area had been the subject of a
possible merger.
“They tried to amalgamate Malin Head and Urblereagh
schools back in the 1970s but it met with a very
hostile response and parents formed a group to
successfully oppose it.” |
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The teacher said
reaction to the An Bord Snip Nua’s proposals had
been slow to come since it was the school holidays,
with some boards of management in the parish not set
to hold their first meeting of the new school year
until the end of September. The teacher added that
transport and building costs would have to be taken
into consideration to see if merging schools was
really a cost effective option. “Thankfully, these
measures are just recommendations at the moment,”
added the teacher. |
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David Hession is on the
Board of Management at Tiernasligo National School.
It is one of a number of rural schools in the
peninsula with less than 100 pupils and thus could
be earmarked for amalgamation if the Department of
Education adopt the McCarthy proposals. “When we
were looking to extend the school a few years ago
the Department of Education wanted us to merge with
another school but parents were against it.” The
Clonmany resident, who has three children currently
attending the school, said he was also worried about
the proposed cuts in child benefit. “These cuts in
child benefit would have a massive impact from my
family’s point of view. Cuts in capitation grants
would have a serious effect on the day-to-day
running of the school. All this will put a major
added burden on parents.
“I know that this report is only [making]
suggestions at the minute, but if these proposals
are in the next budget then you will see some
noise.”
The Irish Primary Principals Network says many
schools could face bankruptcy if the Government
implements the recommendations of the Bord Snip Nua
report.
The IPPN says the proposed staff and funding cuts at
the Department of Education would further undermine
already struggling schools. It says any cuts would
force parents to pay more through voluntary
contributions to ensure a decent education for their
children. INTO General Secretary John Carr warned
that the recommendations in the McCarthy report on
education ‘will cause devastation’ in primary
schools. |
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