Just 7 schools escape special needs cuts

ONLY seven of the 119 primary schools told earlier this year that they are to lose classes for children with special needs have avoided any cuts after appealing the decision.

However, Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe has rejected criticisms of the response to appeals from 49 of the 119 schools where it was announced in February 128 classes with more than 500 children were to be suppressed.

These classes are working with pupils who have mild general learning disability (MGLD) but were found by the Department of Education to have fewer than the 10 pupils required to justify a teaching post.