Education cuts ‘mock’ equality laws

A STRING of secondary school cuts imposed by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe are making a “mockery” of equality law and deliberately targeting the most vulnerable in society, it has been claimed.

Making the comments at an Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) meeting of equality branch officers in Dublin, union president Pat Hurley said the progress made in recent years in developing school services for vulnerable children are at risk of being wiped out.

According to the ASTI president, who was speaking to more than 50 local union equality officers from across the country, reducing the teacher-pupil ratio, special needs cuts, the loss of english language support staff and Traveller student cuts are deliberately targeting vulnerable pupils in an attempt to save money.

These cuts and the fact that the Equality Authority’s funding has been reduced by a massive 43%, he continued, are making a “mockery” of existing equality legislation.

“The goal of equality in education has been seriously hindered by the education cutbacks announced as part of Budget 2009.

“While legislation such as the Equal Status Act obliges schools to commit to equality in education, the cutbacks make a mockery of this obligation,” said Mr Hurley.

“The increase in the pupil-teacher ratio will seriously impair a school’s capacity to provide the necessary resources to students with special educational needs.

“The loss of English language support teachers will have a significant impact on the educational attainment of newcomer students.

“Teachers and school communities work hard to try and progress the goal of inclusive education in our society. Now their work, commitment and goodwill is being undermined,” he added.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s ard fheis coverage over the weekend, Batt O’Keeffe again rejected criticism of his policies, stating that the changes to the special needs staff levels are not a cut in services.

According to the minister, while the one-to-nine teacher-pupil ratio in special needs is being reduced, it will not affect standards because the actual ratio is consistently lower than the official figure.

Pupils with “mild” special needs, he added, will be placed back in the mainstream system.