SCOIL Carmel, the all-girls secondary school on Limerick’s O’Connell Avenue, will close its doors in 2016.
Part of the city’s education system since 1952, the school authorities cited “insurmountable” challenges including demographic changes and the economic downturn for its closure.
A statement issued on behalf of the board of management, said that despite exploring every avenue to keep the school viable, “the time had come to close Scoil Carmel”.
A Catholic secondary school under the trusteeship of CEIST, Scoil Carmel caters for 300 students and employs 30 staff including teachers, administration and caretakers.
Labour Party city councillor Tom Shortt has worked as an art teacher at the city school for the last 32 years.
“It is a very sad day for everyone at Scoil Carmel. I’m still in shock. I love the place; it’s a fantastic institution. It has so much on offer and it has continually produced excellent results despite labouring under negative perceptions,” he told the Limerick Post.
“There is an outpouring of emotion, nostalgia, shock, upset and anger proving that this was a great community where girls were really safe and secure. It is a really tough experience for the young girls there at the moment. First years are just 12 years of age and they will have to find a new school after their Junior Cert in two years,” he explained.
The board of management stated that it is hoped that the students will find an ease of transfer to its sister CEIST schools in the city including Ardscoil Mhuire in Corbally and Presentation Secondary School in Sexton Street.
Regarding facilitating Scoil Carmel’s current pupils in completing their State examinations the board commented: “Current first and second year pupils will complete their Junior Certificate examinations at Scoil Carmel. Third year pupils will go directly through to fifth year following their Junior Certificate and, along with our current transition year pupils, complete their Leaving Certificate examinations at Scoil Carmel. Current sixth year pupils will complete their Leaving Certificate examinations in Scoil Carmel.
“The teaching staff will be re-deployed through the existing arrangements provided for by the Department of Education and this process will be arrived at, having regard for the needs of Scoil Carmel during this time of transition”, the statement concluded.
