School search goes on for three boys

EFFORTS are continuing to find places in second-level schools in Galway for three boys who have not been in class since September because they were refused entry to first year.

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) has already helped their families apply for home tuition for the three boys, who are unrelated to each other but are all members of the Travelling community.

Their refused enrolment applications, two of them to the same, unnamed, second-level school, were appealed to the Department of Education under the Education Act. But those appeals were unsuccessful as the schools were found to have adhered to their admissions policies.

“We are continuing to work with the families and will assist them with further efforts to secure school placement,” a NEWB spokesperson said.

Around nine hours a week of home tuition is being provided by the Department, which is the maximum that can be offered in interim situations where a child is awaiting an appropriate educational placement.