Overview of primary education – school year 2008/09
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Accepted Version
Date
2009
Authors
Hyland, Áine
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Education Matters
Published Version
Abstract
This time last year, the world of education looked forward with confidence to a new school year in which primary education would no longer be the Cinderella of Irish education. Years of lobbying by teachers and parents had resulted in a Programme for Government (2007 to 2012) which recognised the importance of primary education and made specific commitments to improved funding and resourcing. We looked forward to reduced class sizes – and awaited the delivery of the commitment that the staffing schedule would be reduced from 27:1 by one point per year from 2008/9, so that by 2010/11 there would be one teacher for every 24 children. We looked forward to an increase in the day-to-day funding of primary schools, and particularly the doubling of the capitation grant. We anticipated new investment in and support of school-age childcare, “whereby children would be given access to a range of after-school and holiday-time activities, with a major focus on sports and arts”. Expectations were high – but they were soon to be dashed. During the summer of 2008, the first rumblings of what was to become an economic earthquake were felt throughout Ireland. The Celtic Tiger had disappeared and the weak mewing of a pathetic kitten began to be heard. By October, when the earlier than usual 2009 budget was announced, the writing was on the wall for most of the promises of the Programme for Government. The situation was to disimprove even more six months later in April 2009 when the Supplementary Budget was announced. The overall Education Budget would be reduced by €81 million to €9.493 billion. This would result in further reductions in teaching posts; reduction of special classes in mainstream primary schools and further cuts in all sectors of Irish education.
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Keywords
Ireland , Primary education , School year 2008/9
Citation
Hyland, Á. (2009) 'Overview of primary education – school year 2008/09', Education Matters Yearbook 2008-2009.
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Copyright
© 2009, Áine Hyland.