Weighted system ignores the vulnerable

MINISTER for Education Noel Dempsey is planning to introduce a weighted system for the allocation of resources to schools to deal with students who have learning difficulties.

This will mean that all schools will be allocated resource teachers and special needs assistants on the basis of the school’s enrolment figure and not on the amount of children with learning difficulties attending the school.

To put it simply, a school with 20 special needs students will receive the same resources from the department as a school that has only two special needs children, if both schools have similar enrolment figures.

This measure is being introduced to ease the burden on civil servants working in the minister’s department, and is showing scant regard for the children who are most in need of educational provisions in our schools.

This is another example of the Government’s policy of cutbacks aimed at the most vulnerable in society.

Jim Daly

Fernhill Road

Clonakilty

Co Cork