The principal of a two teacher school in Conahy in Co Kilkenny has said that he is concerned for the future of two-teacher schools across rural Ireland following the value-for-money review which is currently being undertaken by the Department of Education.
The move is part of a drive to save the department millions of euro, however, there are real concerns that the move will also wipe out community life in rural areas.
John Meagher is the principal of St Colman’s primary school in Conahy which has 22 students aged between 4 and 12 years of age. There are two teachers and a special needs assistant,
Mr Meagher said that he is worried about the prospect of plans to amalgamate small schools in his area.
“There are three schools in our area, St Colmans, Clintstown and Lisnafunchion National School and none of them would be big enough to take the children of three schools, so immediately this means a brand new school or a substantial extension to one of the existing schools. Another extra ongoing cost would be the provision of bus services to students as they would now be travelling outside of the area for school. I can’t see how closing two-teacher schools will make any significant difference to the department of Education coffers when you consider the extra costs that would be incurred,” he pointed out.
There are 570 two-teacher schools in the country which are a central part of community life in their areas — and in many areas, are the only amenity left.
“It would be regrettable if it happened that they closed two-teacher schools as it would signal the death knell for many rural villages. In many areas post offices, pubs and corner shops have already closed and all that is left is the school and the church. At this stage with the lack of interest in religious vocations, the churches are at risk of closure too. It would be regrettable if the children of the parish had to be bussed out of the community each day to go to school when there are excellent small, rural schools operating in the communities as it is,” said Mr Meagher.
St Colman’s primary school was this week featured in a programme on RTE television as a two-teacher school in a rural area which was working for the benefit of the community. The film crew spent a day filming at the school and the programme was aired on Monday last.
An Bord Snip Nua estimated merging some 659 primary schools with fewer than 50 pupils saving €18m in teachers' wages, as a result of the grouping of children into standard class sizes which would require 200 fewer teachers.
“There are lots of rural communities where every service is gone bar the school and the church — they were once vibrant communities but bit by bit they have lost the services that keeps a community vibrant. I really hope that this doesn’t happen to small schools as it can only have a negative effect on the area — a nail in the coffin of rural community life,” he predicted.
