Education Priorities for Minister Hanafin

20 Apr 2006

In the Easter week of the annual teachers conferences, we are hearing much criticism of the pupil-teacher ratio and the need to recruit more teachers. The INOU believes that while it is important to recruit more teachers and improve the pupil-teacher ratio this should particularly be in the context of tackling educational disadvantage in the coming years. Following the 90th anniversary commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising, we should note the words of the Proclamation: “The Republic guarantees …. equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole Nation and all of its parts, cherishing all of the children of the Nation equally …”

The best way to cherish all the children of the Nation is to ensure universal early, primary and second-level education for all. The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) has noted that too little progress is being made in addressing the needs of both infants in the pre-primary years and of young people from largely working class backgrounds who do not complete secondary school. The ESRI Annual School Leavers Survey 2004 on the employment of school leavers has painted a bleak picture of the correlation of lack of education and unemployment. Almost one in three of those who left school without their leaving certificate were unemployed a year later.

The INOU is calling for increased attention to and increased resources for effectively tackling educational disadvantage. We must ensure that all children, and especially those living in areas experiencing disadvantage, are given the best educational start in life, to maximise their chances of completion of education. At second level, we must try and achieve the EU Lisbon target of 10% early school leavers as a matter of urgency – the current rate is 15%. With second level education completed, young people are placed to enter third level education or join the labour market with excellent prospects of a good job.

“Education is primary in breaking the cycle of poverty and deprivation and the elimination of disadvantaged areas”, said Mr. Eric Conroy, general secretary. “Education leads directly to well-paid jobs and social inclusion, and an end to human set-aside”, he added.