Written answers

Tuesday, 12 April 2005

Department of Education and Science

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

9:00 pm

Photo of John PerryJohn Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 815: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the inadequate staffing level that exists at a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that in September under present criteria they will lose a teacher even though the numbers will have risen again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10054/05]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by applying the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year to a staffing schedule, agreed between my Department and the education partners. The system for allocating teachers to primary schools is based on ensuring an overall maximum class of 29 in each school. Where some classes in a school are greater than 29, it is generally because a decision has been taken at local level to use their teaching resources to have smaller numbers in other classes.

In accordance with the schedule, the staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the school year 2004-05 is a principal and 11 mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 314 pupils at 30 September, 2003. In addition, the school has a full-time resource teacher, a learning support teacher and a resource teacher for Traveller children. The Department will finalise the staffing schedule for the 2005-06 school year shortly and thereafter notify school boards of management. According to data submitted to the Department by the board of management the enrolment on 30 September, 2004 in the school was 288 pupils. The staffing for the 2005-06 school year will be determined on the basis of this figure and in accordance with the agreed staffing schedule.

As outlined in primary circular 19/02, an independent appeals board was established to adjudicate on appeals from boards of management on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. The appeals board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final.

Appeals must be submitted to the primary payments section, Department of Education and Science, Athlone, on the standard application form, clearly stating the criterion under which the appeal is being made, after the schedule for the 2005-06 school year has been issued.

Photo of John PerryJohn Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 816: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if class sizes will be reduced at a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a second aim of this campaign is to focus on and improve resources for pupils with special educational needs; if she will allocate extra resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10055/05]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by applying the enrolment of the school on the 30 September of the previous school year to a staffing schedule, agreed between my Department and the education partners.

The system for allocating teachers to primary schools is based on ensuring an overall maximum class of 29 in each school. Where some classes in a school are greater than 29, it is generally because a decision has been taken at local level to use their teaching resources to have smaller numbers in other classes.

In accordance with the staffing schedule, the staffing of the school for the school year 2004-05 is a principal and 11 mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 314 pupils at 30 September 2003. In addition the school has a full-time resource teacher, a learning support teacher and a resource teacher for Traveller children.

The Department will finalise the staffing schedule for the 2005-06 school year shortly and thereafter notify school boards of management. According to data submitted to the Department by the board of management the enrolment on 30 September 2004 in the school referred to by the Deputy was 288 pupils. The staffing for the 2005-06 school year will be determined on the basis of this figure and in accordance with the agreed staffing schedule.

As outlined in primary circular 19/02, an independent appeals board was established to adjudicate on appeals from boards of management on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. The appeals board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final. Appeals must be submitted to the primary payments section, Department of Education and Science, Athlone, on the standard application form, clearly stating the criterion under which the appeal is being made, after the schedule for the 2005-06 school year has been issued.

As confirmed above, the school referred to by the Deputy currently has the services of one full-time resource teacher, one full-time learning support teacher and a full-time resource teacher for Traveller children.

I trust that the Deputy is aware of the proposed new system for resource teacher allocation which involves a general allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher incidence special educational needs-borderline mild and mild general learning disability and specific learning disability. This system also applies to those with learning support needs, that is, functioning at or below the tenth percentile on a standardised test of reading and or mathematics.

I am conscious of difficulties that could arise with the proposed model for children in small and rural schools, if it were implemented as currently proposed. Accordingly, my Department is reviewing the proposal to ensure that it provides an automatic response for pupils with common higher incidence special educational needs. The review involves consultation with educational interests, including the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. The revised procedure for providing a general allocation of resource hours to schools will be announced in the coming weeks, in time to be implemented for the next school year.

The NCSE, which was established recently, and which has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs supports. Seventy one special educational needs organisers have been recruited throughout the country and will be a focal point of contact for schools and parents.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.