RURAL Limerick schools could lose up to five teachers this September under new regulations on the pupil-teacher ratio.
Based on current numbers, national schools in Knockadea, Ballagh, Cloverhill, Fedamore and Scoil Sn Ciarain, Cillfiobhrai, could lose a teacher if the new regulations are introduced for next September.
Joe Lyons, Regional spokesperson for INTO, the primary teachers union, says his organisation has warned this will make a tough job even harder for small schools.
“Rural schools are already under pressure. Because of the numbers, teachers may have to teach different grades, add to that there may be special needs children in the class. And rural schools also have children from families who are new to Ireland and they may not have a lot of English.
“These small schools do a great job but they are being discriminated against in this pupil teacher ratio,” Mr Lyons told the Limerick Post.
Limerick Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins said: “Minister Quinn is placing the burden of cuts on small rural schools, minority faith schools and Gaeltacht schools. The Minister’s sweeping attack on smaller schools shows complete ignorance of the day to day running of these schools and their importance to the community. He has made no consideration of geography, a school’s position in the community or its ethos.
“There is no doubt in my mind that this is all part of an agenda to force the amalgamation of smaller schools across the country. I believe that if the Government had its way, some communities in this region will lose their local school entirely.
“The Minister said that the fear of losing teaching posts is causing great distress in communities. If the new regulations are implemented, a total of 124 small schools across the country will lose a teacher next academic year”, the Fianna Fáil TD concluded.
