A GOVERNMENT decision to cap the number of language support teachers in schools will foster resentment against immigrants, Fine Gael spokesman on immigration and integration Denis Naughten has said.
Mr Naughten claimed the cuts to language support, coinciding with an increase in class sizes and cuts to special needs support, had “added to the situation that sees pupils competing for teacher attention and forces teachers to allocate inordinate amounts of time to some students”.
“With one in 10 primary school pupils . . . born outside Ireland, the cut in language support funding, in this environment, will ensure that every child in a class with migrant pupils will suffer. This will foster resentment against immigrants, damaging our society far into the future.”
Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe earlier this year imposed a ceiling of two language teachers on most schools, although those with more than 121 pupils with English language needs will be allowed to appoint another two teachers.
Mr Naughten said: “Not only will the cut to language supports have an impact on migrant pupils but our own children are also being denied adequate supports such as speech therapy and other classroom assistance.”
He suggested the Government should have introduced summer language classes for migrant pupils.