In the context of Budget cutbacks in education being a clear attack on the most vulnerable in society, TUI today described the State funding of fee paying schools as confused at best. In the debate around the medical card issue for the over 70s the Government argued that the wealthier should pay and the less well off should be protected. In respect of Education the reverse appears to be the situation. Education for the wealthier members of society is being subsidised while cuts which have a disproportionate effect on the weakest remain.
While TUI is neither attacking those teachers in such schools or their union ASTI it rejects any attempt to create a division among teachers’ unions who are together in their attack on the education cuts. It is seeking to point out the double think in Government circles on budgetary issues in general and to seek a reversal of the effects on the disadvantaged.
Union General Secretary Peter MacMenamin this afternoon stated:
"It is estimated that private fee paying schools are funded by the Department of Education and Science to the tune of around €100m per annum.
All of these schools by definition operate discriminatory selective procedures, whether that be by excluding minority ethnic students or those with special educational needs or more blatantly by pitching the level of fees so high as to put them out of reach of all but a minority. Funding should be dependant on a fair and open admissions policy.
Effectively, taxpayers’ money funds schools to the tune of €100 million that only the most affluent in society can afford to attend.
Such schools will be virtually unscathed by the brutal cuts aimed against the minority ethnic or Traveller students announced last week.
Those concerned will not lie awake perturbed over cuts to the school book grant or other disadvantaged initiatives.
TUI demands that this funding be immediately restored to redress some of the most savage cutbacks foisted on our education system, particularly towards those disadvantaged schools which do not operate selective enrolment procedures.
Fee paying schools invariably operate in affluent communities where fundraising – in addition to the hefty tuition fees charged – also generate considerable income and can be called upon to offset any cut. Disadvantaged schools do not have the luxury of this double funding mechanism (State funding and tuition fees), while fundraising in the local community is simply not possible in the majority of cases.
In the current economic climate, it is morally inexcusable that situation continues and we urge Minister O’ Keeffe to prioritise this issue.”