Education cuts - An idea that might work

THE teachers’ unions will be in conference next week and we can expect all sorts of dire predictions because of a range of cuts imposed in the last two budgets.

One, which ends the €7.5 million book grant which helped less well-off students, seems especially cruel and will sustain and maybe even deepen disadvantage.

An Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) survey has found that, of 20 schools considered, the average would lose either two or three teachers. The ASTI did not say what percentage of staff these cuts represented. In a school with, say, 25 teachers it would be significant. However, in a schools with, say, 75 teachers it might not be so very significant.

The ASTI report that these staff cuts limit the number of subjects that can be offered to students. Anything that makes it difficult for pupils to reach their potential must be a cause for concern. However, if every teacher was to work for one more hour a week it might be possible to sustain the current options. Why not?