Parents’ second night in school queue

PARENTS seeking places for their daughters in a Kerry all-girls school for September 2013 continued to queue last night, despite being earlier told by the principal they did not have to do so.

Some started queuing at Meánscoil na Toirbhirte (Presentation Secondary School) in Tralee at 6am on Thursday. This has been happening for the past four years.

However, principal Sheila Pontillo told the parents on Thursday there was no need to queue.

“Queuing wasn’t necessary either last year, but people still decided they were going to do it,” Ms Pontillo told the Irish Examiner yesterday.

“My experience in the last two years is that parents who came to the school early on the day of enrolment got places.

“I thought that this year by me going out (to meet parents) to explain queuing wasn’t necessary they would have gone away, but they didn’t. It seems that what happens is that some parents take the initiative by forming a queue and a sort of panic sets it,” she added.

While she was flattered that parents were so anxious to get their children into the school, she was not happy with the queuing situation, and the matter would be considered by the school board of management.

The school has more than 700 pupils. Of the 130 first-year places available for 2013, 50 are reserved for children coming from the Presentation Primary School, while girls with a sibling already in the school are automatically entitled to places.

Ms Pontillo was unable to say how many places would be left for others, but queuing parents were hoping there would be between 40 and 50. Enrolment for 2013 takes place today at 10am.

On Thursday night, more than 50 parents, grandparents, family members and even a young baby were accommodated in the school sports hall, made available by the school. Heating and refreshments were provided and they slept in sleeping bags and on blow-up mattresses.

Jennifer Stack from Fenit, who is seeking a place for her daughter Hannah, 11, said: “I know this is not a great way of doing things but, in the absence of another way, you have to go with the flow.”

Helen Finn, also from Fenit, said: “We’re queuing for two days and nights, but it’s worth that for the sake of our children’s education.”