School reports reveal poor and unsafe conditions

THE inadequate and unsafe conditions of some schools that rely on fundraising for equipment was highlighted by Department of Education inspectors yesterday.

More than 50 reports of evaluations of schools and subject inspections appeared on the department website, with many referring to the shortage of space in schools.

The inspector who visited Coláiste Íde Naofa in Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, last October to evaluate science and chemistry at the school recommended that a number of safety issues be resolved as a priority.

These included installing gas and electrical isolation switches in the science lab, putting in a fume cupboard and a flame-resistant press for flammable chemicals.

The inspector suggested that the school seeks funding under the department’s summer works scheme for these measures. However, since the report was written, it was announced in this year’s budget that the scheme was not being funded this year.

The inspectors who visited Scoil Mhuire in Buncrana, Co Donegal, last March reported the library was refurbished through significant funding from the parents council. But pressure of space means access to the library is restricted as it is regularly used for supervised study for students.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) said reports of inadequate resources and facilities in second-level schools are no surprise, given that Ireland comes joint-last out of 29 OECD countries on spending on each second- level student relative to our economic wealth per capita.

“References to ICT [Information and Communications Technology] deficits in schools are of great concern given that the Government has stated its commitment to the development of Ireland as a knowledge economy,” said general secretary John White.

A number of reports from inspections in the primary sector highlighted overcrowded classes and underfunded schools from Mizen Head to Malin Head.

At Scoil an Chroí Ró-Naofa, Castletownbere in west Cork, inspectors said some classrooms were noticeably crowded, particularly when special needs requirements are taken into account.

A report on Scoil Naomh Fiachra, Illistrin, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, shows that pupil numbers have outgrown the extension built in 2004 and it has had to add six prefabricated classrooms.

The school board stated it was “very aware of the fact that 43% of our school population are being taught in prefabricated buildings”.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation said this shows that inspectors are aware of the overcrowding problem caused by Education Minister Mary Hanafin’s failure to reduce class sizes. School boards are allowed to respond to the inspectors’ report before they are published online.