Thousands set to march in education cuts protest

ABOUT 10,000 people are expected to take to the streets of Cork tomorrow in a protest calling for the Government to reverse cuts to education announced in last month’s budget.

The latest rally follows similar events in Galway and Tullamore where teachers, parents and students have voiced their anger at the cutbacks proposed by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe.

The local minister is expected to be the target of strong criticism from leaders of teacher unions and school management organisations, with protestors marching through the city centre from midday.

They will set out from the Grand Parade, along South Mall, Parnell Place, Merchant’s Quay, and St Patrick’s Street, returning to hear speakers outline their concerns outside the city library at Grand Parade.

Irish National Teachers’ Organisation Cork City south branch spokesperson Harry Burke said it is not just teachers who will be taking part.

“I’ve only got a few years to go to retirement so there’s nothing in this for me, we are protesting on behalf of the children in our schools and we want parents to show their support,” said Mr Burke, who works at St Anthony’s Boys’ National School in Ballinlough.

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland president Pat Hurley, a teacher at Midleton CBS, said they hope that people will come from around Munster in support of the campaign against the cuts.

“We have already met the minister to outline our concerns, but it is important that people turn up to show their anger and tell the Government that children should not have to pay for their mismanagement of the economy,” Mr Hurley said.

The biggest concerns are about changes to staffing allocations for the country’s 4,000 schools, which will mean larger primary class sizes and restricted subject choices in second level.

The withdrawal of funding for substitute teachers to cover uncertified sick leave and the absence of second level teachers on school business is also predicted to cause difficulties from January, when school managers have warned that they could have to send children home because of inability to provide adequate supervision of classes.

Mr O’Keeffe has met with a number of unions, management bodies and other groups in the past weeks to discuss their concerns, but insists that the cuts are necessary because of the economic circumstances faced by the Government.

The minister described a meeting with the Union of Students in Ireland on Wednesday as constructive. However, student groups such as the hundreds who demonstrated in Tralee yesterday remain strongly opposed to the possible reintroduction of third level tuition fees.