Traveller education - Much done, more to do

IT IS heartening that twice as many children from the Traveller community are in second-level education today than six years ago.

But it is dispiriting that the vast majority never go on to sit the Leaving Certificate.

If young Travellers are to have any chance of making their way in mainstream society, they must at least have basic qualifications. With a decent Leaving Cert, they can go onto third-level education, with all that implies.

As things stand, however, the drop-out rate is still far too high. While 2,317 students enrolled at second level in 2006, up from 1,165 in 2000, only 82 sat the Leaving Cert exam last year, compared with 63 in 2005.

It is encouraging that 7,771 Traveller children were attending primary schools in 2006, twice as many as 20 years ago. This has been achieved with support from more than 500 resource teachers and other back-up services and agencies. It would be a regressive step if these vital resources were axed in the forthcoming budget.