Group president to school Quinn on issues facing secondary system

SOME second-level schools could face closure because of the last few years of cuts to staff and funding, a management leader will warn Education Minister Ruairí Quinn today.

The effects of rising pupil-to-teacher ratios, cuts to staff working with special needs students and those at risk of leaving school early and reductions in day-to-day funding are putting enormous strain on secondary schools, according to Noel Merrick, the president of the Joint Managerial Body/Association of Management of Catholic Secondary Schools (JMB/AMCSS).

He will give the message to the minister today at the annual conference of the organisation, which represents the boards of almost 400 Catholic and Protestant secondary schools.