Children have been withdrawn from another national school in Co Cork in a protest over delays in the school building programme.
Parents of children at Burnfort National School, Mallow, remov- ed their children yesterday to highlight the poor conditions, particularly the use of prefabs.
The school is forced to use two prefabs, both over 20 years old, with one serving as a classroom for 5th and 6th class, and the other holding the principal's office, staff room and other offices.
The board of management has been trying since 1996 to obtain permanent accommodation and get rid of the prefabs. Earlier this year the school was informed it was not being included in this year's funding round by the Department of Education.
This decision has caused anger among parents and teachers, who claimed yesterday that other schools were receiving more favourable treatment from the Department. Parents and teachers warned that further protests would follow if action on their school was not taken immediately.
Speaking on the situation the INTO general secretary, Mr John Carr, claimed earlier this week that the Minister for Education said the public did not understand the various stages of the Department of Education's building and renovation procedures for schools.
Mr Carr said many schools, never mind the general public, found it difficult to understand "these bureaucratic, outdated procedures". "The story of Burnfort national school won't increase public understanding of the procedure. However, it clearly shows the public how slow it is. Builders all over the country can put up housing estates, factories and offices in far less time than it takes the Department of Education to modernise an existing school.
"The children who started school in September 1996 when the application was made to the Department of Education are now in 4th class. They have two more years left in primary education. Will they see their school modernised at all," he asked.