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.

The target figure of employing 184 psychologists has not been achieved.

Fine Gael’s education spokesperson Olwyn Enright said an extra €5 million was needed to rescue NEPS.

“This is a new low for the Government and the latest indication of its flawed commitment to NEPS.

“One of the key duties of Education Minister Mary Hanafin is to ensure that children with specific educational needs or difficulties, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, are able to reach their potential within the education system.

‘‘The Government is still short of its 184 target for psychologists by more than 50 posts. In actual fact, figures show that the number of primary schools covered by the service is actually in decline.

“An additional allocation of €5 million for 2007 would have allowed for all schools to be covered by the NEPS service,” she said.

Labour education spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan accused the Government of abandoning vulnerable children.

“Schoolchildren and parents of children from disadvantaged backgrounds are extremely fortunate that the Saint Vincent de Paul has taken it upon itself to pay for these important assessments. Yet the reality is that this service should be provided by the Department of Education rather than through a charitable organisation.

“It is a total indictment of the Government’s uncaring attitude to some of our most vulnerable children that they have failed to provide sufficient resources to the NEPS or to employ the required psychologists.

“Thousands of children require these assessments to get the support they need, otherwise they may slip through the educational net and find themselves ill-equipped to cope with life outside the classroom.”

The Education Department insisted all schools had access to psychological assessments through NEPS or via the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments.