Madam, - To whom does one appeal to on grounds of gender inequality when a large group is involved, as the Equality Act applies only to individuals who have been discriminated against?
The Department of Education's new system for allocating resources for special needs in national schools unjustly discriminates against all girls' schools.
Circular Sp/Ed 09/04 has indicated the ratio for a mixed school to be one teacher to 150 children; for boys' schools this is improved to one teacher to 140 boys; whereas in a girls' school the 150 mean is disimproved by 50 - to one teacher to 200 girls. This is blatant discrimination on gender.
As a result we in this school will be providing an unequal service compared with that of our neighbouring boys' school.
Someone in the Equality Authority, or elsewhere, should take heed before a case is taken in the courts to right obvious and unequal treatment. - Yours, etc.,
F. O'CATHAIN,
Príomhoide,
St Benin's Girls'
National School,
Duleek,
Co Meath.