Hundreds to meet over risk to West Cork schools

By Sean O’Riordan

Monday, January 16, 2012

HUNDREDS of people are expected to attend a meeting in West Cork tonight as fears mount that Government-imposed budget cuts will lead to the closure of up to 10 rural schools in the region within three years.

The meeting, which will be held in the Parkway Hotel, Dunmanway at 7.30pm, was sparked by fears that unless the move is reversed it will lead to the closure of some schools which are set to be amalgamated with others when teacher numbers drop.

Clara McGowan, spokes-woman for the campaign group Save Our Small Schools (SOSS), said that in particular there were a number of two-teacher schools in the region which would be at risk if they were to lose a teacher.

She also said that increased pupil/teacher ratios will lead to overcrowding in classrooms.

Ms McGowan said: "The exact figures being phased in over the next three years means that a child in a one-teacher school could be in a classroom of 19 children, where eight grades are being taught by one teacher. In a two-teacher school one teacher could be teaching 28 pupils with four grades, and in a three-teacher school one teacher could be teaching 34 pupils in three classes."

While Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has promised that no small school will be closed due to these changes, SOSS says the reality is that if these cuts go ahead small schools will be squeezed out.

"Many schools will be adversely affected, with huge numbers in multi-class settings which may force schools to close or amalgamate, sounding the death knell for rural Ireland," Ms McGowan said fearing that her own school, St James NS in Durrus, is one of those at risk.

Ms McGowan is one of two teachers there catering for 21 pupils. "The Department of Education is not taking into consideration the multi-grade classroom, let alone the needs of the child with special needs or learning difficulties."

"The Department of Education also conducted a value-for-money review in small schools in March 2011, but the results of this have not been analysed or published, despite our group and many individual schools around the country making submissions. Is this what we call value for money for children?"

Tonight’s meeting will be addressed by John McKenna of the Bridgestone Guide, who lives in Durrus, and by the deputy mayor of Co Cork, Cllr Declan Hurley.

"We need to discuss the implications of the cuts and to devise a plan of action to get the cuts reversed. SOSS is urging parents, boards of management, past pupils, community members and all interested parties to come along and show solidarity," Ms McGowan said.

This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, January 16, 2012