"BREAKING the Cycle challenges us all to break the mould to stand back and reflect on where we are now to approach things with a new vigour and to incorporate new visions into our thinking," says Maura Grant, the newly appointed co ordinator of the urban phase of the Breaking the Cycle initiative.
Breaking the Cycle represents "one of the most significant educational interventions conceived," she says. "It offers enormous potential to improve significantly the life chances of some of our most disadvantaged children."
Access and participation in the education system are impeded by economic or social limitations, Grants says; this measure is designed to compensate for these inequalities.
"It provides opportunities to support children at risk of educational failure by offering the support of an early intervention scheme.
Research shows tat significant class size reduction is needed to make a significant difference. In addition to reducing the class size to 15, the additional resources allow schools to examine their own needs and to respond without fundraising, Grant says.
"The targeted in career development, which is going to be geared towards schools, will help schools assess themselves and draw up a five year development plan. Principals will sit down with their staff and ask where do they want to be in five years time and what can be done to achieve that."
Information seminars for chairpersons, principals and one teacher from each staff have already taken place. The schools are recruiting staff and the additional teachers should be in place by mid November.
The INTO has criticised the implementation of the programme so late in the school year and questions why it could not have begun in September.
Grant's brief is to visit schools on a regular basis and to organise in service training, with the help of the Department of Education's in career development unit. She will advise schools on the purchase of equipment and offer ideas and suggestions.
Speaking at the launch of the rural disadvantage scheme, Liam McCloskey, INTO president, said the union has been fighting for years to have rural disadvantage recognised and this scheme is a welcome first step.
"One of the central problems in rural schools is the lack of access to the remedial service. This is a vital service in any school and one which must be extended to all schools as a priority," he added.
McCloskey said the INTO regretted that many schools that also applied were not included in this initial phase of the scheme, and he looked forward to an extension of similar resources to all those deserving of it.
