Schools’ reliance on charities a ‘national scandal’

OUTRAGE was sparked yesterday by news that school heads are being forced to turn to charities to fund psychological assessments for pupils.

The Irish Examiner revelation that more than 1,000 children from disadvantaged backgrounds had to rely on funding from the St Vincent de Paul (SVP) for the key appraisals was branded a national scandal by opposition parties.

School principals turned to the charity in desperation, despite the existence of the Government’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) — launched in 1999 with the task of providing all primary and post-primary schools with access to psychological services within five years.