Government's target for education is way off course

ALL schools were promised modernisation in the Programme for Government but hundreds are still awaiting the go-ahead for upgrades a year later.

The Programme for Government also promised to develop third level campuses and support advance research in these institutions.

But instead capital spending in third level education has been cut by a third and major publicly-funded research under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) has been put on hold.

The Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats Programme for Government also promised to reduce the pupil/teacher ratio and to ensure that class sizes for all children under nine will be below the basic international guideline of 20:1.

However, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation said the Government claim of a 19:1 ratio is nothing to boast about.

"It is still the highest in the Europe, according to an Irish Examiner headline last week, and twice as high as Denmark

"The figure parents and teachers want to see brought down is class size, but again we top the European league," said INTO deputy general secretary Catherine Byrne.

At second level, one-third of schools were turned down for resource teachers to help students with special needs in the past year, according to the ASTI union.

Ms Byrne also challenged the Government's boast about increased spending, pointing to the fact that only 4.3% of our national income goes into education.

This is down from 5.5% eight years ago and is one of the lowest investment rates in Europe.

"One year on, this government has a lot more to do to meet its targets in the education sector. In teacher speak: Has shown plenty of promise but must try harder."

There was no mention in the Programme for Government of bringing back third level fees.

Education Minister Noel Dempsey met with widespread opposition when he announced his intention to bring in fees for wealthier families.

But this plan was abandoned when Tánaiste Mary Harney suddenly found an extra €12 million that will help finance a new improved third level grants package.

The U-turn on the third level fees was seen as a victory for the Progressive Democrats which had opposed the move from the start.

But the Minister Dempsey has rejected this claim and insisted that his new €42 million grants package was a victory for the under privileged who will be given better access to third level education .

Before the election, former Education Minister Michael Woods directed his officials to send out "good news" letters to schools about building projects and to stop using negative wording about delays.

But the Department fought back with one senior official warning that any communications from the Minister's office must be ignored if it was to lead to an financial overrun.

And there was even a warning that the Minister would be reported to the Comptroller and Auditor General if he created liabilities for which the Department lacked funding.

In their first annual report on the Programme for Government, the Coalition said yesterday that they stood for election on a proud record

."But our case to the people was based not on past achievements - it was based upon future plans," the report stated.