In a pre-Budget statement issued today (Wednesday 2nd December), the National Alliance for Primary Education is reminding the Government that the Primary education system is a fundamental corner-stone of economic progress. It is one of the critical keys to unlocking a fairer society said the Alliance. The system simply cannot sustain any more damage. If Primary education is neglected in the Budget, it will further set back the process of economic recovery and growth, and will do long-term, fundamental damage to the principles of fairness and equity for all our children added the Alliance.
Children in Primary Schools cannot fight for themselves said the Alliance. This is why so many organisations in the primary sector have come together to make the case on behalf of this and the next generation.
National Alliance five key issues;
• School Funding & Teacher Ratio – The revised Programme for Government contains promises in relation to school funding and the pupil-teacher ratio. These must be honoured in full. Even if they are, the crisis in funding of primary schools will continue to grow. It is now the case that most schools have to seek between a quarter and a half of their annual funding for day-to-day operations from private sources – principally the family voluntary contribution. Given the growth in unemployment and the pressure on family incomes throughout the country, many schools will be in deep crisis if there is not a substantial increase in the capitation grant.
• Grants – The Primary Alliance is also calling on the Government to rationalise the present system of specific purpose grants, enabling Principals and Boards of Management to exercise more discretion on priorities within their own schools. The total amount of this new grant must not be less than the existing smaller diverse grants.
• Special Education Needs – The situation facing students with special needs, and the schools they attend, is becoming more acute all the time. The cutbacks in supports for such students, including English-language teaching, must be reversed. It is unjust that parts of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act are not yet commenced, and they cannot be without a commitment of additional resources.
• Support Services – Vital support services for schools are being gradually squeezed out of existence. Access to key services such as psychological assessment, psychiatric assessment, speech therapy, home-school liaison, special needs and learning support teachers are being reduced.
• ICT – The failure to invest in educational technology between 2002 and 2009 has created a serious inequality issue. In the absence of Government investment during the ‘boom’ years, parents in some schools were able to fundraise for the provision of the required hardware and educational software. In the many schools where this was not possible, children are now further disadvantaged by the great ‘digital divide’.
Despite the fact that Primary Schools exist in a state of constant under funding where their day-to-day operational costs rely on local fundraising, the primary education sector is a true example of the public service delivering modern, high quality education everyday to half a million children said the Alliance. Against a backdrop of economic and financial problems, primary education is one bright, shining light; it is a critical ingredient for national recovery; its budget must be protected from further cuts and it must be given priority status for post-recession funding increase said the Alliance.
Educating today’s children is important for the future prosperity of Ireland. Ireland needs to prioritise education and ensure that a properly financed education system is available to all children and is not left to the individual financial resources of local families and communities.
National Alliance Primary Education Organisations
• An Foras Pátrúnachta
• Church of Ireland Board of Education
• Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo
• Educate Together
• Gaelscoileanna
• Irish National Teachers’ Organisation
• Irish Primary Principals’ Network
• National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education
• National Parents’ Council – Primary
