Proposed changes to the way classroom resources for special needs students are calculated could damage the quality of education on offer, it has been warned.

Until now, primary schools were allocated staff to assist children with common learning difficulties such as dyslexia based on how many pupils they have, the Irish Examiner reports.

However, from the start of the next school year, special needs teachers will be assigned based on the number of classes a school has.

The Irish National Teachers' Organisation said it has received numerous complaints from educators who will be forced to work at multiple locations as a result of this.

Principal of An Grianan School near Moate, Co Mayo Ann Kearns said: "Instead of children getting extra teaching, the hours would be lost in time spent by teachers having to travel to different schools."

It was stated by the publication that under the new rules, almost 2,500 resource teachers will be shared between neighbouring establishments.

Last month, general secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland Pat King warned the cuts to the education system announced in the Budget will have a "profoundly negative" effect on education in Ireland.

Written by Donal Walsh
 

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