COUNTY WEXFORD SMALL SCHOOL TO LOSE TEACHER IN SEPTEMBER
A small school in County Wexford is one of almost 40 around the country which are set to lose a teacher in September.
It arises from a decision announced by outgoing Education Minister Ruairi Quinn in the Government’s first budget in December 2011.
The Irish Independent reports today that 39 small schools, one of which is in County Wexford, are set to lose a teacher in September.
It comes as a result of changes to teacher-pupil ratios by the Government 3 years ago.
In 2011 a two-teacher school needed 14 pupils to retain it’s teachers, a three-teacher school needed 51 while a school with four teachers needed 81 students.
From September a school will need a minimum of 20 pupils to retain two teachers, 56 pupils to employ three teachers and 86 pupils to have four teachers.
The September teacher allocations are based on a school’s enrolment last autumn.
The Irish National Teachers Organisation said this was fundamentally unfair to small rural communities.
