Pupils could be unsupervised
The Post Primary Education Forum (PPEF) meeting at the Brandon Hotel on Monday. Credit: Photo by Manuela Dei Grandi
WHILE cuts in primary schools and the resulting surge in class sizes have dominated the headlines following the government's education cutbacks, a serious and imminent problem has arisen in the nation's secondary schools.
As of January 1, the Department of Education is cutting all funding for secondary schools to provide substitute cover for teachers who are on uncertified sick leave or are absent on official school business.
With less than three weeks before schools close for the Christmas break, management in secondary schools around Kerry say they have no idea how they'll be able to keep their schools running once the new term begins and the cuts come into effect.
According to Kerry school principals, the €30 million cut in the supervision and substitution budget could leave hundreds of Kerry students unsupervised if their teachers are absent with sudden illnesses and could potentially force principals to close down their schools altogether to comply with health and safety laws.
Strict health and safety legislation is in place to cover Ireland's schools and should anything happen to a student in an unsupervised or overcrowded classroom the school could be exposed to a potentially massive lawsuit.
European health and safety laws set out stringent rules on school class sizes and supervision and, without cover teachers, schools would find it next to impossible to operate within the European rules.
To avoid this, schools could be forced to close their doors altogether if several teachers are absent and no cover can be arranged.
Obviously this would mean that the entire student body of a school could be sent home without any supervision whatsoever or left to roam the streets, potentially leading to huge public order issues.
In addition, the cut will have a huge impact on schools' ability to run extracurricular activities for students including, for example, sports or school trips.
If no funding is available to cover teachers absent on school business, for example to bring a school team to a GAA match, schools may be forced to abandon some competitive sports altogether.
Meanwhile, if schools earmark some of their own funds for substitute cover it could lead to other subjects suffering.
Principals meeting in Tralee on Monday said some schools may have to cut entire subjects to meet the cost of supervision.
- SIMON BROUDER
