Buildings debate: Delegates at the INTO Congress defied the expectations of their leadership by voting not to take strike action on May 31st on the issue of inadequate buildings.
A motion to strike was narrowly defeated, after members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) argued that in public relations terms, teachers should work to influence public opinion through the media and "keep their powder dry". However, they did not rule out industrial action in the long term, voting in favour of an escalation of their campaign in the school year 2003-2004.
The CEC plans to demand a supplementary budget for primary school buildings in the November estimates.
Horror stories about dilapidated schools inspired delegate after delegate to address the gathering. Children aged five and six were daily walking up and down "dangerous" stairs in a decaying and disadvantaged 120-year-old school serving 220 pupils, stated Ms Deirdre Cronin, a teacher at St Brigid's in the Coombe, Dublin.
Ironically, her school is in a renewal area, where land is being sold off for private development. Dublin City Council has agreed not to sell the school land for a year or two, but since she is on the bottom quarter of a list of 400 schools awaiting funding, Ms Cronin holds out little hope that the Department will turn up with the money in time.
"This Government is making serious choices and the choice they are making is that they will not spend money on school buildings," she stated.
"We are at breaking point. We will not stand by and let the kids and ourselves suffer these atrocious working and learning conditions," she stated.
Ms Marie Bradley, a teacher at Scoil Mhuire Fatima, Drogheda, noted a letter from the former minister for education, Mr Michael Woods, delivered in 2000, promising a new school. This promise was never met.
Three weeks ago, a part of a roof at her 150-year-old school collapsed onto the playground. Fortunately, the incident occurred on a Saturday, when none of the pupils were present.
Her 403 pupils are being educated in three separate buildings, connected only by the main Dublin-Drogheda motorway, "the most dangerous road in Ireland," she claimed. When making their way from the main school to PE, learning support and language classes, the children must use this road.
The INTO Congress unanimously voted to demand the immediate start of work on all schools with sub-standard accommodation.