Madam, - As an educationalist, to say that I am astonished at the recent announcement by Noel Dempsey regarding testing at seven and eleven would be an understatement. How can any Minister for Education support such a retrograde step? One is immediately forced to ask the question, is there a hidden agenda.
The Minister stated that he needs information to direct his Department towards the adequate funding of the disadvantaged in our education system. I would point out to the Minister that this information already exists. All primary principals have the information, his Inspectorate has the information and every parent of a special needs child has the information. Mr Dempsey, it would appear, is one of the only people involved in education who doesn't know.
I would ask the Minister to listen to the people at the chalk face before embarking on another "Don Quixote" crusade. The educational "windmills" he is attacking have been put in place by the dedication and hard work of primary teachers since the foundation of the State. These windmills have stood the test of time and have resisted many an ill wind from successive ministers for education who often have less than altruistic intentions.
I would like to point out to our Minister for Education that Irish primary schools:
• Are inspected by his Department more regularly than any other education sector.
• Have the highest class sizes in the EU.
• Have policies on the ongoing assessment of pupils.
• Inform parents on a regular basis as to the progress of their children.
What teachers need, Mr Dempsey, are resources to do the job, not tests to tell us what we already know. - Yours, etc.,
MILO WALSH,
New Ross,
Co Wexford.