Schools may lose transition year option

STUDENTS in up to half the country’s second-level schools may have no option to take transition year or alternative Leaving Certificate programmes because of Government cutbacks, a survey has found.

While the supplementary budget had no major impact on frontline school services, most of the cuts in October’s budget will take effect when children return from holidays next autumn.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has published findings of detailed research with 20 schools on the impact of the cutbacks, which include an average loss of two or three teachers per school and the abolition of a range of grants.