Over 100 Special Needs Teachers Axed

The Department of Education has announced it is to cut over 100 teachers providing support for children with learning disabilities.

Up to 900 primary school pupils will be affected by the cuts as 128 special teaching posts are lost.

Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe has instructed more than 100 schools to shut down special classes for children with mild learning disabilities as it claims numbers have fallen below the required level.

Fine Gael Education Spokesman Brian Hayes has described the decision as the worst example yet of an attacking on the most vulnerable in the education system.

"The Minister clearly has no understanding of special needs provisions within Primary Schools. By removing these classes, additional and unsustainable pressure will be put on existing mainstream classes in schools and will inhibit the rights of all children to a decent education.

"I believe the Children's Ombudsman should intervene along with the Education partners to stand up for the rights of these children who cannot stand up for themselves."

Children are eligible to attend special classes if they have been diagnosed with a learning disability such as dyslexia and dyscalculia.

The Department of Education has written to the 119 schools affected, of which some are seriously underfunded, instructing them to discontinue their special classes from next September.

It says they no longer have the number of eligible pupils required to retain a teacher for this purpose.

The INTO has called it an 'outrageous dismantling of the special education infrastructure, committed only for financial reasons'.

(DW/JM)