Schools could be allowed share special needs teachers

THE willingness of Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe to allow schools share a teacher to keep children with special needs in special classes has been welcomed by teachers.

Having informed 119 schools last week that 534 pupils with mild general learning disabilities must now be put in mainstream classes, the minister has indicated a willingness to offer more flexible arrangements for schools to share special teachers. The 128 classes did not have the nine pupils required to retain such teachers.

But Mr O’Keeffe said that he and the Department of Education are willing to discuss the situation with groups of two schools that might have nine pupils between them.