1,000 ‘won’t make it to second level’

UP TO 1,000 children beginning school this week will not make it to second level education unless resources in primary schools are improved, teachers and opposition parties claimed yesterday.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation said many children who failed to transfer to second level had well-established patterns of non-attendance or truancy, but parents were often unaware of the problem until they were approached by the school.

Union general secretary John Carr said the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB), set up two years ago to ensure every child either attends school or otherwise receives an education, must be properly staffed to help address the problem.