Madam, – The Government has once again attacked the marginalised, the poorest and most vulnerable in our education system while at the same time enhancing the educational lives of the already privileged. In the same week that this Government granted €1 million to private fee paying schools under the Summer Works scheme, it has seen fit to withdraw funding from schools which have Behavioural Support classrooms. These units were set up in 2006 based on the report School Matters published by a government task force on tackling the problems of indiscipline in schools.
It was hoped that these classrooms would help the disengaged pupils to learn while also catering for the rights of all students to learn in a positive atmosphere.
It seems the recommendations of the report have now been cast aside so that private fee paying schools can use tax payers’ money to enhance their buildings instead of using the huge fees they collect. It begs the question, “Does school matter?”
This Government’s action in cutting funding to Behavioural Support classrooms shows that as far as it is concerned school matters more for the privileged than the marginalised. Whatever happened to the Department of Education and Skills policy that all children have a right to learn in a caring and safe environment? – Yours, etc,