The needs of the most disadvantaged students in local second-level schools are not being taken seriously by the Government, Galway West’s Fine Gael Seanad Spokesperson for Education has claimed.
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames says cutbacks in the School Completion Programme (SCP ) are a clear sign of this snubbing.
“Reports this week that the Department of Education is demanding a three per cent cut in payroll costs/ funding of the SCP are appalling. It is a sure sign that early school leaving is not a priority for this FF-led Government. If it was a priority they would think more carefully about hitting programmes that support vulnerable young people to stay at school.
“The astonishing facts are that early school leaving affects almost one in six of our second-level population nationally with 18 per cent of students dropping out before they do their Leaving Certificate exams. In severely socially disadvantaged areas student drop-out figures are as high as 60 per cent. It is these communities and their vulnerable young people that will be so adversely affected by this savage and short-sighted move.”
The Oranmore senator says she has seen first hand the vital work carried out by the SCP when, for example, co-ordinators liaise between primary and second-level to better prepare students for a smoother transition to life at second-level. The essential interventions provided, on an individual and group basis, in areas such as homework support and study skills are needed by all children but are most crucially required by those who do not receive this support at home, she says.
“The question must be asked: when will this Government realise that our second-level education system, as it is currently constructed, does not suit all of our young people? Because the system is flawed vulnerable students especially need props to survive. The SCP is one such prop. Our overly-academic second-level system is contributing to the alienation of over 10,000 students nationally who simply cannot keep pace with the curriculum demands of the exam-driven and points-led system.
“The SCP programme went some distance towards recognising the challenges faced by these at-risk students and provided much needed attention for them at critical moments. By slashing this programme the Government is snubbing these students while showing a distinct lack of understanding for their educational needs.”
She says new educational and creative pathways must be provided at second-level to help students find their niches. With vision, imagination and a commitment to ensuring that all students are worthy of a complete second-level education, these pathways can be implemented, she believes.
“Fine Gael in Government is committed to reducing early school leaving and to providing new ways to engage all students in education. Unfortunately, after 11 years in Government there is little evidence to show that this FF-led Government has the commitment to ensure that more of our students stay in school for longer. I find this repugnant, given the fallout for society and most especially for the young people themselves.”
