Madam, – The English Language Support Teachers’ Association (ELSTA) is astounded at the proposed cut of 1,200 teachers in the area of English as an Additional Language (EAL) for students for whom English is not their mother tongue. As the recently published Intercultural Education Strategy 2010-2015 clearly shows, while some immigrants are leaving Ireland, “there is still a significant inward flow of migrants and the recent profile of migrants is changing, with an increasing proportion in the 0-15 year old age category”.
Ireland is now a multicultural society and will continue to be. In cutting resources in this area, the Government is not only discriminating against Ireland’s migrants but is also helping to dilute the educational package provided to the indigenous population. All will suffer from this proposed cut – and for many years to come.
Over the past decade, Government Ministers have said how they will learn from the disastrous situation apropos migrants in countries like France, England and Germany. To renege on their promises now will lead to lack of opportunities for our migrants, increased racism and the danger of ghettoisation of groups of migrants. This is not a situation anybody could condone.
ELSTA calls on the Government not to implement the proposed cut in EAL allowance.– Yours, etc,