The bombshell that Mayo VEC is to be amalgamated with Sligo VEC as part of a radical plan agreed by the Cabinet this week to cut the number of VECs in the country by half down from 33 to 16, has left the education sector in Mayo reeling this week.
The news was announced by RTE in its 9 O’Clock bulletin on Tuesday night without any warning or alert having been issued in advance, or any consultations having been entered into with VEC representatives.
In the absence of any follow-up detail or assurances, the possible repercussions of this dramatic decision could range from the mild to the ridiculous, with some VEC members now warning that rural primary and secondary schools will come under threat while the additional reach of the VEC into post-leaving cert, FETAC and adult education courses may also be affected.
The CEO of Mayo VEC Dr Katie Sweeney was unavailable for comment but Mayo VEC Chair, Cllr Jarlath Munnelly said there would definitely be implications for “staffing and students and adult education courses.”
“The problem is there is not an awful lot of detail and we’re awaiting further clarity but this announcement has certainly raised more questions than answers. What I would say is that any reforms have to be about improving things so it needs to be shown how this is going to make it better for the learners.
“Staff members in mayo VEC are rightly concerned about this, as are people who work in the offices and in their interest we would like to see clarity.”
Cllr Munnelly added that despite the claim the amalgamation should cut costs, he expected having to administer it would result in more costs.
According to Castlebar Labour councillor Harry Barrett, who is also a VEC Committee member, the term ‘amalgamation’ is now being used as a synonym for cut-backs in rural Ireland.
“It’s hard at this point to know exactly what it will mean but certainly there will be a loss of control and community input into our own schools. That has to be worrying. The problem is we’re operating in a vacuum at the moment as the decision was only announced but there definitely will be a skilling down eventually and a certain dilution of our input as local represenatives into the policy of VECs and schools.”
He added that the move was just another example of central government using the red pen and targeting the soft options of education and health, while not daring to tackle almost 1,000 government created quangoes still operating in the state.
“They haven’t sat down and consulted with the VECS. This is just the Education Minister Mary Coughlan coming off the back of the McCarthy report. This is how the country is being run - in accordance with ‘An Bord Snip’.”
As a teacher himself, Cllr Barrett said the new merger should not affect teachers and their performance as “they are professional, they know the format, they will plough on.”
However, he anticipates that the VEC will now be asked to look at school amalgamations and in light of recent plans put in place for VECs to take over roles of primary school management, that will be expected to go ahead against the backdrop of closing down rural schools.
“Expect the closure of an awful lot of small rural parish schools - that is already going to come down the track from the Colm Mccarthy report.”
As to the busy Mayo VEC college and administrative facility headquarters at Newtown, Castlebar, Cllr Barrett said it was the “million dollar question as to what will happen with it.”
“We are completely in the dark on this. I received the news in the form of a text. It’s all just a slap in the face to local democracy that we should be treated this way. Without a doubt there will be job losses, the main objective here is to save money. The overarching picture is that by amalgamating the VEC it will in turn put pressure on schools to amalgamate. It is all about cuts, cuts and more cuts. An Bord Snip is back with a vengeance. We’re being frightened into austerity measures and this recession is being used to scare people into accepting this but they must stand up now and protest.”
Sinn Fein councillor Therese Ruane Sinn Féin councillor criticised the decision as “a bad move that should be stopped in its tracks.". She added: "This move will undermine democratic accountability. VECs are comprised of elected representatives, parents, staff and community representatives elected at county level. Amalgamations will mean their input will be greatly diminished”.
The merger is being tipped to save €42 million a year in administrative costs throughout the country and to impact on 950 admmin
