The education cuts announced in the 2009 Budget have resulted in an increasing groundswell of disbelief, disappointment and growing anger. John Carr, Head of the INTO, has described the budget as

“the most callous, savage attack ever undertaken against primary-school children in this country”

The Post-Primary Education Forum - the lobby group representing teachers, parents and school managers - said school closures appeared inevitable unless the Budget cuts were rescinded. "Entire school communities - pupils, families, teachers and school managements - have been dealt a severe blow”

Mother Hen has set out below the main cut outlined in the budget. Let us know how are these cuts going to affect your school and your children – post your thoughts on the budget and less us know of any protests organised in your area.

Budget Cuts

An increase in Class Sizes – Class sizes will increase from 27 to 28 pupils per class at primary level and 18 to 19 per class at secondary level. According to the Dept of Educ this will result in about 200 teachers and primary and 200 teachers at post-primary loosing their jobs however teachers and their unions argues that the job losses will be substantially higher with around 1200 losing their jobs at post-primary level. In primary schools, classes will have to merge, and having to send pupils home on some days may be the only option. Second-level schools will have to cut the range of subjects. Higher pupil-teacher ratios for a second-level school that loses two teachers will mean a loss of around 66 weekly timetabled class periods.The increase in class sizes will mean that Irish children will have the largest class sizes in Europe.

Language-Support Posts Decimated – A cap of two language support teachers per school is to be introduced regardless of how many newcomer students a school has. For example a school who had 160 students requiring English language tuition would have had six language-support teachers only to see that now being reduced to two, with four teachers to loose their jobs and 160 students to receive limited support from only 2 teachers.

Substitution Cover Withdrawn – This means that teachers absent on uncertified sick leave or absent on school business at 2nd level will not be entitled to substitute cover. Where such absences arise, schools will be expected to distribute students amongst other classes. This could potentially mean the end of all inter-school sports and debating, students going to the theatre, essential field trips such as biology and geography, and transition year outdoor pursuits. Participating in the Young Scientist Exhibition, the Higher Options Conference or careers open days could also prove difficult.

Disadvantaged Funding Cut – Schools who had qualified for special teacher posts to provide support for disadvantaged students have had this posts abolished whilst extra money for Traveller children in this schools has also been withdrawn.

Free Books Scheme Abolished – all schools, apart from disadvantaged schools in the DEIS scheme, loose the allowance that enabled them to provide free school books to some students.

Post-Primary Grants Cut – Grants for transition year, LCVP, Leaving Cert Applied, home economics, chemistry and physics, choirs and orchestras and Junior Certificate schools programmes have all been abolished. All funding for the Centre for Talented Youth in DCU, and for summer courses in Gaeltacht Irish colleges, is also gone.

Traveller Funding Cut – capitation funding for Travellers in non-disadvantaged schools has been withdrawn while funding for Travellers in disadvantaged schools is to be reduced.

Grant for Resource Teaching Abolished – The grant which Resource teachers received for equipment and materials to enable them to teach students with special needs has been withdrawn.

National Development Plan Funding for Computers in Schools Postponed - €252 million which was to been spent on ICT between 2007 and 2013 has been postponed.

A Demonstration has been organised for outside Dail Eireann on Wednesday next, 29th October at 6.30pm and is being supported by the ASTI, INTO and JMB

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