Pupils protest over freezing classrooms
The students of Coachford Community College in mid-Cork downed their pens and stormed out just after 9am to highlight freezing classroom conditions, poor toilet facilities and the lack of hot water in their school’s toilets and showers.
The demonstration was organised by sixth-year students, with support from the school’s student council.
Most of the protesters were fourth, fifth and sixth-year students.
It is understood several students remained at home yesterday to avoid the protest.
“We don’t want to cause trouble,” sixth-year student, Shaunna Lynch, said.
“We just want the school authorities to sit down and reason with us and provide the proper facilities that any school should have.”
Other students, who declined to be named, said the County Cork Vocational Educational Committee (VEC)-managed school is so cold during winter months that teachers allow them to sit in class wearing hats, gloves and scarves.
They said the heating is on in the morning for about five minutes but is off for the rest of the day.
It is turned on more regularly during the months of February and March, they said.
They protested outside the school gates throughout the morning and ignored repeated directions from their teachers and principal Patrick O’Connor to return to class.
They said some teachers threatened to drop students from camogie and basketball teams unless they returned to class.
Students presented a list of concerns to Mr O’Connor which they said need to be addressed urgently. They want:
The heating to be turned on throughout the winter months.
Cleaner toilets.
Locks on all toilet doors.
Toilet seats on all toilets.
Hot food in the school tuck shop, or for sixth year students to be given permission to leave the school grounds at lunchtime to go to nearby Coachford village for hot food.
More lockers.
Sixth-year students said the problems have been raised since they were in first year.
It is understood the school’s board of management has also raised the concerns.
Despite repeated efforts, Mr O’Connor was unavailable for comment yesterday.
Coachford Community College is situated on a 10-acre site and has just over 600 pupils.
Sunderland star Liam Miller is a past pupil.
A large extension was added to the school in 2001, almost doubling its overall floor area.
