Schools short of resources for special needs students, say unions

SCHOOLS are powerless to implement plans for special needs students because they don’t have the necessary staff, teachers unions warned last night.

They were speaking after the launch of guidelines on the development of individual education plans for up to 40,000 primary and second level students with special educational needs.

They were prepared by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), whose jot is to ensure all those with special needs get the appropriate assistance at school.

However, Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) general secretary John White said the Department of Education has failed to give schools additional resource teacher assistance to co-ordinate and implement plans.

“No extra resources of either teachers or time have been provided to carry out the essential educational administration work associated with individual education plans,” he said.

Despite the general acceptance that around 11% of all second level students have special educational needs, Mr White said a recent ASTI survey found that only 36% of second level schools have a permanent resource teacher.

“Individual education plans will result in significant additional work for schools, including administration and coordination work, professional collaboration and communication with parents. In the absence of additional resource teacher, assistance and other supports, many schools will be unable to cope and the pupils will suffer,” he said.

Teachers Union of Ireland president Paddy Healy said neither the time nor appropriate training to prepare plans has been made available to schools.

“At present, our schools and teachers are being asked to shovel sand with a fork. The guidelines assume an ideal, resourced school environment which is entirely removed from the reality,” he said.

An NCSE spokesperson said it will present its views on the resourcing and training requirements in an implementation report to Education Minister Mary Hanafin in October.

Ms Hanafin said the number of teachers working with special needs students at second level has risen from 200 to 1,640 teachers since 1998.

“We are all aware of past failings in not providing adequately for special education. Since 1998 unprecedented levels of investment have been targeted towards special education and significant progress has been made,” she said.