Our Children Deserve Better
There is no doubt that children do better in smaller classes and in schools that are well built and well
equipped. However, the facts are:
- • 800 schools rely to some extent on temporary buildings
- • 40,000 children at least are being taught in prefabs
- • One in four children are in classes of 30 or more.
Our children deserve better.
This Government reneged on its commitment to reduce class sizes. Ireland has the
second biggest classes in the EU, and things are getting worse. The Labour Party is now calling for:
- • A timetable for meeting the commitment on class sizes given in the Programme for Government and for the required recruitment of staff
- • The phased reduction of class sizes to the European norm
- • A reduction in maximum class sizes to 25:1 in mainstream classes, and 15:1 in schools where there is chronic disadvantage
- • Sanction for the appointment of additional special needs teachers to meet current needs and to implement the terms of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004.
In addition, schools who last year were told that their building programme could proceed have this
year been told that all projects have been put on hold indefinitely! In the meantime, children are
attending schools with no proper heating, no sports halls, no general purpose rooms, and no staff
rooms.
The Government simply has to get to grips with this, not just because it is bad for our children, but
also because it is a shocking waste of taxpayers’ money.We have to deal with the urgent crisis in the
physical infrastructure in primary schools which we can do by:
- • Implementing an emergency three year programme to upgrade our school buildings
- • Using surplus capacity in the construction sector to deliver this building programme, which will also provide valuable employment
- • Using available capital monies to finance this significant investment, by borrowing if necessary.
There isn’t any time to waste. Our children deserve better.
