Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection

Pupil-Teacher Ratio in Gaeltacht Schools: Discussion

2:45 pm

Photo of Trevor Ó ClochartaighTrevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I could not allow Mr. Loftus leave without challenging what he said about phased increases being fair and equal. That was not the case because the Department took away the preferential ratio which previously obtained in respect of Gaeltacht schools. That is the crux of the problem. I am interested in the thinking behind that move, particularly as the Department seems to be of the view that an English-medium school in a non-Gaeltacht - possibly rural - area and a Gaeltacht school are exactly the same. We are trying to explain that they are not the same. Mr. Loftus also stated that there had been 100% redeployment. If that were the case, where did the savings arise? The Department is still employing the same number of teachers. Does what was done involve a bias towards urban schools, which have obtained additional teachers, and rural Gaeltacht schools, which have lost teachers? If there were such a bias, then I have an issue with it. The change to the pupil-teacher ratio gave rise to a double whammy for Gaeltacht schools. Not only did the Department increase the ratio in respect of schools with between one and four teachers, it also removed the preferential rate which applied to Gaeltacht schools. What would have happened if the preferential rate had been left in place and if the ratio for Gaeltacht schools had been increased by the same number? Mr. Loftus stated that six posts had been lost. If the Department had gone halfway, then three posts would have been lost and a further two in the 2013-2014 school year. I contend that this would not be of major significance in the context of the overall savings made by the Department. Perhaps it might review the position.

Díreach ar an bpointe a rinne Treasa Ní Mhainin - glacaim leis an méid atá le rá aici - tá knock-on effect ag na ciorruithe sna bunscoileanna ar na meánscoileanna. Tá géarchéim ag an dara leibhéal maidir le soláthar múinteoirí le Gaeilge chun na hábhair éagsúla ar fad a múineadh. Muna bhfuil dóthain daltaí ag teacht tríd na bunscoileanna le Gaeilge mhaith, ní bheidh dóthain daltaí le Gaeilge mhaith ag dul ar aghaidh le múineadh sna meánscoileanna. Tá fadhb ollmhór faoi láthair. Tá ganntanas múinteoirí cáilithe le cumas sa Ghaeilge ann le hábhair eile a múineadh i scoileanna Gaeltachta agus gaelcholáistí. Sa chomhthéacs sin, iarraim ar na finnéithe breathnú ar an gcuóta atá ar an dioplóma gairmiúil san oideachas in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh. Faoi láthair, tá sé sin teoranta ag 40 duine. Dá méadófaí an figiúr sin, d'fhéadaí níos mó mic léinn a thógáil tríd an gcúrsa agus cabhródh sé sin leis an ganntanas mór millteannach atá ann faoi láthair ó thaobh múinteoirí iar-bhunscoile le Gaeilge mhaith. Má leanann na ciorruithe ar aghaidh ag leibhéal na bunscoile, beidh tionchar aige sin ar an meánscoil, ar an tríú leibhéal agus ar gach leibhéal eile. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuil an bunphrionsabail seo - aitheantas Gaeltachta sa Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna a thabhairt ar ais - ríthábhachtach.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.