The National Parents Association for Vocational Schools and Community Colleges ( NPAVSCC), The Parents Association for Community and ComprehensiveSchools and The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (PACCS) will strongly resist the cutbacks detailed in the budget because they effect the most disadvantaged.

It is counterproductive especially at a time of recession to make cuts in education and to row back on the progress of recent years because education is an investment in our future.

The Minister for Education’s reference to only two years completely misses the point, as cutbacks in education for a period of two years will have a hugely negative impact for many years to come. A whole cohort of students will miss out. In fact, the cutbacks are so regressive that they throw us back 15 years. The improvements made in the last 15 years will be lost.   As it is we were third last in investment in education according to the OECD.

The cutbacks will now ensure that we win the race to the bottom of the league.

To take just one glaring example, the re-imposition of the ceiling of two language support teachers per school, will mean that many minority ethnic students will be denied the opportunity to reach their full potential in the education system. If we are to work against the development of racism in our schools further investment in resources for minority ethnic student is required, not cuts.

The reference to an increase of ”just one” in the pupil teacher ratio is not just regressive but is dangerously misleading. It is a rowing back on a hard fought for gain, which will undermine the education of students in a whole range of ways.

  This cut together with the other cuts announced will:

1. seriously limit subject choice which will effect student’s career options.
2. lead to large classes where all students will lose out on teacher tuition time.
3. further marginalise those already on the parameters of society and education.
4. deprive students with special needs of vital resources 
5. put increased school transport costs on parents
6. put increased financial pressure on parents because of withdrawal of the school book grants.
7. put a disproportionate burden on vulnerable parents to make up the shortfall in school budgets.
8. deprive students of opportunities to participate in sporting and cultural activities

Green Party Councillors at a meeting on Wednesday expressed serious concern in relation to the cuts in education. The Green Party now has a pivotal role in government.  

As the Minister for Education and Science has shown himself to be intransigent on the cutbacks and dismissive of the concerns of teachers and parents NPAVSCC, PACCS and TUI calls on the Green Party to ensure that the issue of class size, restrictions on language support teachers and other cutbacks which will have a disastrous effect on children’s education do not go ahead.