Communityfearsforschool
FEARS continue over the future of Faughart NS as there were no pupils attending the school at the end of September, the time of year which determines the number of teachers who will be allocated to the school for the following academic year.
According to a spokesperson for the Department of Education: ‘ The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.’
When asked if the school was now in danger of closing as there were no pupils at it when the staffing numbers were being assessed for the 2018/19 school year, the spokesperson stated ‘As committed to in the Programme of Government, no small school will close without the consent of parents.’
She continued that, ‘ The decision making authority for a school closure rests with the Patron of a school, and this is subject to the agreement of the Department. Any proposal to close a school must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders, parents, teachers, students and local communities and follow decisions taken at local level. The Department is in ongoing contact with the single manager and Patron of Scoil Náisiúnta Bhrighde in relation to the issues arising including its future viability.
The spokesperson confirmed that ‘Decisions in relation to redeployment of teachers are currently being carried out and three teachers have been redeployed to other schools in the diocese.’
The Argus understands that the principal of the school has recently taken paternity leave.
One of the parents who removed children from the school said that while the department’s statement about consultation was to be wel- comed, the fact that there were now no children attending the school meant that there were currently no parents, so she feared that they might not be consulted.
She hoped, however, that the community would be consulted about the future of the school as they had raised funds for facilities at the school over the years.