Brittas Bay school holds on to teacher
PARENTS, pupils and staff at Scoil Mhuire Realt na Mara received some welcome news prior to the Christmas break having learnt they won’t lose one of their teachers.
There were concerns that the Brittas Bay school would lose one member of staff on December 2 due to low enrolments numbers last September. Under Department of Education rules there needed to be a minimum of 150 students registered to maintain the school’s existing six teaching positions. Only 146 pupils enrolled this academic year, four short of the total required. Fianna Fáil TD Stephen Donnelly has praised the efforts made by parents and teachers to secure all teaching positions in the school.
‘Thanks to major efforts though by the Principal Eileen Byrne, and many teachers and parents, the Department of Education has taken a more flexible approach in this case. This means that despite not meeting enrolment targets, the school will retain its sixth teacher for this academic year and by next September it should meet those targets and keep the post’.
However, Scoil Mhuire Realt na Mara is still struggling with large pupil to teacher ratios. The school also doesn’t have a PE Hall and the Principal doesn’t have enough space for private meetings. Special needs teachers also have no designated classroom for their lessons. Deputy Donnelly has written to Education Minister Joe McHugh asking him to ensure capital funding is made available to build extra classrooms, an office and a PE hall.
‘This is simply not good enough. Our children deserve better. For my part, I’m determined to help them get it,’ said Deputy Donnelly.