Sir, – So the innovative Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has announced plans for an international architectural design competition for primary schools. This week, Mr Quinn told the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland that he is looking for architectural designs that anticipate and respond to the changing learning needs of primary school children.
As a principal of a large rural school that from a distance resembles a caravan park, I note this development with some professional interest.
As I eagerly await, as I have been doing for the past two years, a first sod to turn, the Minister now seems to be heading off on an aestheticism over pragmatism tangent.
I also remain somewhat confused as to what Mr Quinn means by “changing” learning needs. Surely, that should read “immediate” learning needs?
At the risk of stating the obvious, the immediate need of every primary school child is an education in a real classroom. A fully-furnished, 80 square metre, rectangular, well-ventilated, well-lit, well-heated room en suite, with Wi-Fi. There should be one of these rooms for each age-appropriate group of no more than 20 children, overseen by a fully qualified teacher and assisted by a person trained in helping children with special education needs. Add to this, ancillary space, offices, staffrooms, meeting rooms, learning support/resource teacher (LSRT) rooms and a large PE hall. Capping all this, with energy efficient solar panels (we are after all a three-flag winning green school) . . . a roof. One roof. Have I won? – Yours, etc,
PETER GUNNING,
Principal,
Scartleigh National School,
Saleen,
Midleton,
Co Cork.