Sir, I wish to comment on your editorial (January 29th) concerning a policy position paper which I published recently on rural educational disadvantages and one teacher schools. While welcoming the interest shown in the issue I feel that some of the observations were simply unfair.
I made it quite clear in the position paper that the proposal to provide an additional teacher to one teacher schools is and I quote "an important step in a series of measures designed to reduce disadvantages in rural Irish education". I stated categorically that we in the Fianna Fail party are currently preparing a comprehensive policy document on education in rural Ireland and that in particular we are examining a recommendation contained in a recent study that class size in the junior classes of primary schools should be reduced to 15 pupils.
That study entitled "Educational Disadvantage in Ireland" was commissioned by the Department of Education and Combat Poverty and undertaken by the Education Research Centre, Drumcondra. It highlighted the unacceptably high level of educational disadvantages in rural Ireland. The authors estimated that 60.7 per cent of all disadvantaged pupils in the country live in rural areas with populations of less than 10,000 people. This, as I stated in my position paper, demands a comprehensive policy response.
In addition the study confirmed that, contrary to an implication in the Editorial, the issue of disadvantage in rural Irish education is not being addressed. The authors were critical of the existing schemes of assistance to schools in designated areas of disadvantage and found that the indicators of educational disadvantage used in the schemes are, and I quote, "of little value in rural areas where disadvantage is dispersed but where the majority of children who can be described as coming from disadvantaged backgrounds actually reside."
Overall, the study found that the impact of the measures under the schemes of assistance were, in most cases, limited and fell below expectations. This conclusion has obvious implications for existing policy approaches to dealing with disadvantage in Irish education and suggest that a more critical analysis of same is required.
In relation to the issue of one teacher schools, I have been concerned about the growth of such schools for some time and have received a considerable number of representations concerning the issue. I have spoken to the various interests involved and all are agreed that it is extremely difficult to teach up to 20 children ranging from junior infants to sixth class simultaneously in the one classroom. From an educational perspective it is simply not on. If this is agreed it follows naturally that we do something about it. We have an obligation to the children in such schools to do something about it. It is simply not enough to just express concern and regret about the phenomenon.
It is also important and in accordance with the Constitution to ensure adequate education provision for religious minorities in rural areas. Approximately 42 of the existing one teacher schools throughout the country are under Church of Ireland management.
There has been a welcome reaction to the proposal. I have been contacted by teachers from multi class two and three teacher schools who welcome the fact that education in rural Ireland has been placed on the agenda. I am well aware that they too have difficulties and are in need of additional support.
Finally the Editorial suggests that it is unlikely that the Minister for Education, Ms Bhreathnach, would contemplate closing small rural schools. May I respectfully suggest that it is really the Minister herself who should clarify her position and state categorically her policy approach on this issue. - Yours, etc.,
Spokesperson on Education,
Dail and the Gaeltacht,
Eireann,
Baile Atha Cliath 2.