Up to 3,000 for protest over cuts which threaten future of rural schools

Up to 3,000 people from communities all over West Cork are expected to stage a protest in Bantry on Friday over changes which they warn could force the closure of small rural schools.

The Save Our Small Schools (SOSS) West Cork group protest is targeted at Taoiseach Enda Kenny — himself a former principal of a small school — who is due to attend a retirement function for former TDs PJ Sheehan and Jim O’Keeffe in the town on Friday night.

“We want to have a very strong presence there to get the message across that we do not want small schools being put under pressure with the new staffing schedule, which raises the pupil-teacher ratio,” said Norma Healy of SOSS West Cork and principal of the two teacher, 16-pupil Cappabue National School in Kealkil.

New staffing requirements introduced in the budget for schools with four teachers and less could force amalgamations or even closures, she warned: “Up to budget 2011 you needed 12 children to keep a two-teacher school open — under new regulations introduced in the budget and due to be implemented on a phased basis, there will need to be 20 pupils on the books in a two-teacher school by 2013.

“This means teachers in small schools will increasingly come under pressure with larger numbers in a multi-grade setting, which affects the quality of the service we give to our pupils.”

Because the budget regulations were backdated to last September she said, this meant that as of then a two-teacher school must have 14 pupils on its books.

By September, this would have risen to 17 pupils, she said, and by September 2013 the figure would have increased to 20 pupils, raising the overall pupil requirement by eight.

“Similar changes have been introduced for three- and four-teacher schools,” Ms Healy added.

The protest is not due to begin until 9.30pm or 10pm. Nearly 1,000 people attended a public meeting on the issue in Dunmanway about two weeks ago so a strong turnout is expected.