Sligo school’s appeal for extra teacher rejected

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

St Patrick’s NS in Calry has been informed it has been unsuccessful in its appeal for an additional teacher for the upcoming school year.

The issue of schools being over subscribed for the new academic year in September was raised at the Sligo-Drumcliffe Municipal District meeting on Monday by Cllr Thomas Walsh who informed the meeting of the bad news for Calry NS.

Cllr Walsh had tabled a motion which stated, “That Sligo County Council writes to the Minister for Education to seek an update on the request for additional teacher allocation for St Patrick’s NS, Calry given that the school is experiencing a growing number of student enrolments and in order to ensure class sizes remain managable and that all pupils receive the standard of education they deserve.”

Cllr Walsh noted the school currently has 176 students, noting it is a “very fast growing school.”

Cllr Walsh explained the issue arises as the school will only be able to accommodate 28 new students next year unless an additional teacher is provided meaning many will miss out on sending their child to their desired school.

Highlighting the urgent need for a new teacher to be made available to the school Cllr Walsh said, “Over 45 students have applied for the upcoming school year. There should be a common sense approach . No increase in investment is needed for the school, the classroom is there. The school can cope with with taking additioal students with an extra teacher.”

Cllr Walsh noted there is precedent for such decisions being made adding, “There is a demand for this. We should be doing everything at national level to ensure this is dealt with.”

The motion was supported by Cllr Marie Casserly who remarked, “When the Minister was in Sligo I spoke to her secretary about it. The problem is the schools in the catchment area are also full. They have the space, all they need is the sanction for a new teacher. It is a rigid, strict system that the Department are adhering to.”

Calling for the matter to be dealt with urgently, Cllr Casserly insisted, “This is an emergency. The staff, principal and parents have to make plans. This is a very urgent situation.”

Cllr Edel McSharry also offered her support for the motion saying, “It is the adherance to the process that doesn’t make sense. A lot of the time we are talking about seven year projects, it just makes no sense this wasn’t validated. There needs to be more case by case looking at the issues. I hope common sense prevails.”

Cllr Thomas Healy also criticised the policy makers saying, “It might be working in Dublin, it is not in rural Ireland.”

The debate concluded with Cllr Walsh calling for the five local Oireachtas members to be contacted in relation to the matter adding, “I hope that Calry get the additional teacher very shortly.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.