Irish Vocational Education Association

An Cumann Gairmoideachais in Éirinn

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Statement by Michael Moriarty, General Secretary, IVEA re Education cuts
07 August 2009
"Using any objective criteria there will be substantially less teachers in schools in three weeks time and this can only mean schools can offer less subjects and less supports to pupils. It could well mean the survival of the fittest" says Michael Moriarty, General Secretary.
Principals are currently trying to finalise time tables in the context of the Department's latest guidelines. The main difficulties being experienced are:-
"As there are differences in programmes and teaching methodology this development would be educationally unsound," says Michael Moriarty, General Secretary.
In order to function it may be necessary for schools to lose some subjects or drop transition year options. It will also likely mean that some schools will have difficulties in meeting the 28 hour per week class contact requirement.
"As the reality of the combination of the withdrawal of grants, the embargo on appointments and the increased pupil teacher ration bites deep there will be severe difficulties for our schools. We will try to manage this horrendously difficult situation but there will be casualties in terms of subject choice and programme options. The cold chills of winter will arrive early this year for the education sector, " concludes Michael Moriarty.
The Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) represents the interests, at national level of Ireland's thirty-three Vocational Education Committees (VECs).

The VECs are statutory education authorities currently delivering educational programmes up to 100,000 second level pupils and 200,000 adult education learners. The day-to-day administration of the association is carried out by the secretariat, headed by the General Secretary, Mr Michael Moriarty in the IVEA's head office in Dublin.
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