An irresponsible attack on further education

A counter-productive hike to the pupil-teacher ratio will lead to further inequalities, says Gerard Craughwell

SUCCESSIVE education ministers have spoken with passion about tackling disadvantage, ending inequalities in our education system, and ensuring a level playing field for all.

However, Budget 2013 was a black day for anybody involved in further education in Ireland as a result of the unjustifiable cutback in the staffing of further education and post-Leaving Certificate courses (FE/PLC). These courses are provided in dedicated colleges, post-primary schools, and in a variety of education centres. Now, at a time when the educational attainment of the population is a national economic priority, it beggars belief that the Government has inflicted such an irresponsible cut on the FE/PLC sector by worsening the pupil-teacher ratio by two full points.