Sir, – In the recent discussion on fee-paying schools, the position of Protestant schools has received little attention. We are very happy with the school our children attend, which has a great social, religious, economic and ethnic mix, good teachers and facilities and excellent support for special needs. We would prefer to send our two children to a free school, but it is important to us that our children are educated within our own religious ethos (we are members of the Church of Ireland) and there are no free Protestant schools in our area. We have therefore no choice but to pay fees for their education. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – We are informed that “26,000 pupils are enrolled at the State’s 51 fee-paying schools” (Weekend Review, September 3rd). Based on the latest Department of Education and Skills statistics, there are currently 356,107 pupils enrolled in second-level institutions. Assuming this figure includes these 51 fee-paying schools, these 26,000 pupils represent 7.3 per cent of all pupils in secondary education.
This 7.3 per cent currently avails of over €100 million in State funding each year before the students’ parents contribute another €100 million per year. The continued success of these schools in the Leaving Certificate provides these pupils with access to the most desirable third- level courses and professions where they will eventually set the future economic and social agenda of the State.
This proves beyond doubt the existence of a “two-tier” educational system in Ireland. Educational advantage achieved on the basis of income which is financially supported by the State provides this 7.3 per cent with an unfair advantage over the other 92.7 per cent of secondary school pupils. It’s comparable to giving Usain Bolt a 50-metre head start!
Will Government policy ever change to level the playing field? I would be interested to know how many Government ministers have had children attend fee-paying schools? This might answer the question! – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I am a sixth-year student in one of the country’s private schools, Belvedere College. Seán Flynn (Weekend Review, September 3rd) seems to be under the illusion that private schools as a whole seek to service the elite (Weekend Review, September 2nd). This is not the case.
I have witnessed firsthand how the majority of parents are making huge sacrifices and choices in order to pay the costs of private education and the reason for this is simple, they are prioritising their child’s education. Freedom of choice is a fundamental principal of our democratic society. If my parents are willing to make sacrifices to pay for the Jesuit education in Belvedere then why place restrictions on this? They are taxpayers and should possess the right to choose how they spend their money. Just like some parents might prioritise getting a new car or going abroad for holidays.
Mr Flynn seems to indicate a harsher stance on private education is necessary, however, the reality is if the Government does not subsidise private schools, then the fees will sky-rocket and the majority of students will no longer be able to afford the costs and will be forced to enter the public system which will mean an end to the current significant savings the State makes on private schools.
Every time I look at the education section I see private schools being slammed for encouraging a classist society; it’s never an article highlighting the incredible work students are doing feeding the homeless week after week on the soup run or raising thousands of euro for a wide range of charities. – Yours, etc,
Sir, –
I welcome the contribution of The Irish Timesto the perennial debate on the issue of hard- pressed taxpayers subsidising fee-paying educational institutions of privilege (Weekend Review, September 3rd).
Notwithstanding the meltdown in the State’s financial coffers, whenever the sensitive matter of taxpayer subsidies to private secondary schools surface, the formidable middle class and the well resourced recipient private schools rush to defend what is increasingly seen as the indefensible. The resilience of these private schools to weather the economic tsunami washing over us is best demonstrated by the sharp rise in pupil intake at both day and boarder level and an increase in student fees.
Apart from the fees aspect of these schools, their admissions policies have been criticised as being too restrictive. Such practices makes these school virtually inaccessible to children of immigrants, the Travelling community, children with special needs and those whose parents cannot afford the cost.
Yet it is this same category of people who by their taxes fund the State’s €100 million subvention of private schools. This subvention is then used to provide facilities which State schools cannot afford.
There is also evidence that some of this State funding is used to lower the pupil-teacher ratio at these institutions of privilege which in turn discriminates against children in State schools. Just like fee-paying private hospitals which are profitable businesses, private fee-paying schools must resource themselves. Why should taxpayers, the vast majority of whom could never aspire to such a privileged education for their children, be expected to subsidise exclusive boarding schools for privileged minorities when State-run schools are having their funding severely reduced.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of Cian Traynor’s and Seán Flynn’s balanced and objective report on fee-paying schools was the fact that many private schools invited to contribute to the debate, failed to respond.
One can therefore draw one’s own conclusions why. – Yours, etc,