PRIMARY SCHOOL managers have launched a joint campaign to highlight the funding crisis in schools amid growing concerns on the prospect of severe budget cuts.
The seven management bodies say primary schools are under-funded, under-resourced and under-staffed. Primary schools, they say, are forced to depend on an ever-increasing burden of fundraising to meet basic costs.
With 100,000 pupils expected to enrol in primary schools in the next decade, they say the situation will deteriorate further without significant investment.
The school managers say most schools do not have the resources to deliver modern computer or sports programmes. There is also continued concern over special needs provision, while schools continue to operate some of the largest classes in the OECD.
Funding shortfalls, they say, are affecting schools in the following main areas: light, heat and water; telephone and data communications; cleaning, secretarial and care-taking; rents, insurance and accountancy; curriculum materials including computer, sports and music equipment; books and staff development, and substitution.
In a joint statement they "call upon the Government to give urgent priority to, and deliver substantially increased funding for primary education in the budget. Immediate action is critical not only for the maintenance of existing levels of service to children and to address long-standing funding shortfalls, but also because of the current rapid increase in student numbers.
"The overwhelming consensus of economic and political commentators assert that the future of our society will be that of a 'knowledge' or 'thinking' economy. It is impossible to conceive of such a future without properly resourced schools.''
The managers say it is simply reckless to fail to invest in our education system at this time. "Our primary schools form the foundation upon which the performance of our entire system is based and unless we dramatically increase investment in primary education, Ireland will suffer both economically and socially.''
They warn that the consequences of failing to invest in the education of the current generation will be felt not only today but for many decades to come, and that decisions made in Government Buildings over the next two weeks will reverberate longer in education than in any other area of spending.
"Irish primary schools have been chronically underfunded by all governments since the foundation of the State. Governments have neglected the primary system at the best of times and worst of times. It is now imperative that this neglect is corrected. To fail to do so is straightforward political irresponsibility."
The joint statement was issued yesterday by the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association, the Church of Ireland Board of Education, Educate Together, Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge, Gaelscoileanna, the Islamic Board of Education and the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education.
