Parents of Limerick primary school children who have not received offers of a secondary school place for next year will hold a crisis meeting tonight after a new school application system left up to 80 young children "out in the cold".
Almost 80 children in Limerick were not offered a secondary school place for next year despite listing five schools in order of preference in a new CAO-type secondary school application system. The new system was introduced in Limerick last year after 17 children were unable to find a place in any city school.
Last Friday, the first round of offers were sent out, with up to 80 children failing to receive an offer of any school, leaving many 12-year-olds feeling "totally rejected" according to some angry parents.
Under the new system every sixth-class pupil in the city was asked to fill in a common application form listing their first five school preferences.
However, some parents of children who were not offered places in the first round have expressed their anger with the new system which they say has failed their children.
"We feel totally devastated for our son. He was the only one in his class not to get an offer of any school and he feels totally rejected. All his friends keep texting him and calling him asking him why he hasn't a place. He's only 12-years-old he shouldn't have to go through this," said one father.
According to the Limerick Education Centre, which is administering the new system, a second round of offers will be made on March 3rd.
However, many parents feel they shouldn't have to wait "in limbo" and they are worried that their children still might not get places.
Meanwhile, Limerick-based Minister, Mr O'Dea, has had a meeting with the Minister for Education, Ms Hanafin, to discuss the situation.
He says he will put alternative proposals to the Minister if the new process does not work.