The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) today welcomed an Equality Tribunal ruling that could have widespread implications for schools’ admission policies. The Tribunal found that a Tipperary school indirectly discriminated against Travellers by giving priority to those applicants who had a brother or father previously attend the school. TUI claims that some schools continue to discriminate against students with special educational needs and those whose first language is not English.

Speaking today, TUI General Secretary Peter MacMenamin said:

“This is a timely reminder that selective enrolment policies continue to discriminate against the most marginalised and acutely disadvantaged in our communities in a large number of the country’s schools.   
The promotion of equity and inclusion is enshrined in the mission statement of the Department of Education and Skills but its perennial silence on such issues is absolutely deafening.

The case pursued by this young student’s family barely scratches at the surface of discriminatory policies rife in some schools across the country. Those students whose first language is not English and those with special educational needs are also routinely denied entry to the school of their choice in thinly veiled discriminations. In addition, the Budget has raised the pupil teacher ratio for Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) students while maintaining the existing ratio for those schools which charge tuition fees.

TUI believes it is a certainty that the cut in teacher provision to the LCVP will result in increased student drop-out.
Now more than ever, the Department needs to rise to its stated responsibilities and cherish all children equally.”