Cork schools ‘delaying purchase of resources in order to pay heating bills’

THE need for more funding for schools is a huge issue at the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation Annual Congress, with one Cork INTO member saying that principals are having to put a hold on purchasing resources in favour of paying their heating bills.

Incoming INTO vice president Anne Horan, from West Cork, said that class sizes in Irish primary schools are still too large.

“The class size was reduced in three budgets, but not in Budget 2024,” said Ms Horan.

“We don’t know what future governments will prioritise, so we really need the last budget of this Government to sort this issue. Not just for teachers, but for children, parents, and society as a whole.

“If we get primary education right we are getting a lot right,” she said, explaining “so much of it is down to investment, it can’t be done on the cheap.”

Ms Horan said that investment will also be needed for the upcoming curriculum redevelopment in 2025, saying: “Change cannot occur unless it is financed”.

“You don’t hand someone an online specification and expect them to teach it, we need face-to-face seminars,” she said.

“We’ll also need more money for new resources, the new curriculum is going towards a playful pedagogy, and that can’t happen with the same old box of toys we’ve had in the corner for years.”

Fundraising

Former INTO president and fellow Cork teacher John Driscoll also raised the issue of class sizes.

“We’ve seen improvements, but we’re still high compared to Europe, so we haven’t got there yet,” said Mr Driscoll.

“There’s an ongoing situation with funding, the level of capitation grant per head is under €200, but for second level it’s over €300.

“Schools are fundraising or asking parents for money, and it puts the school in an awful position, where principals are looking for money for extra resources or even to pay the heating or insurance bill, because they’re so high at the moment.

“The minister has said on occasion, and I agree, that parents should not feel that they have to make contributions to their child’s school, but the answer is that the Government adequately funds us, so we’re not deciding whether to buy badly-needed resources or pay the heating bill, it shouldn’t come down to that.”

He said that their organisation’s rule one is to support and maintain the profession, but rule two is to advocate for education.

“It’s so important that the system is well-resourced and funded,” said Mr Driscoll.