ASTI criticises multi-cultural deficiencies

A secondary teachers union is claiming the Irish education system is not providing adequate support to meet the needs of ethnic minority students.

The ASTI says although some additional resources and teaching staff have been made available to schools with ethnic minority students, they are not sufficient.

The association says schools are doing their best to respond to multi-culturalism.

But General Secretary Charlie Lennon said this evening they need practical supports such as more language support teachers, in-service training on multi-culturalism, and a home school liaison teacher.