What is Stand Up for Education?
Stand Up for Education is a campaign with the aim of mobilising public opinion to persuade government:
- To increase the level of investment in education in Ireland to 7% of GDP over a period of time to be agreed
- To not target education for further cuts in the December Budget
- To reverse cuts imposed over the past year as soon as possible and
- To provide additional places in education for the government's employment activation programme by the removal of artificial limits on enrolment in Post Leaving Cert and other courses designed for this process.
The education sector has already suffered significant cuts, particularly in recent budgets. These cuts have hurt students and their families. As a modern, civilised society we must, on behalf of our children, demand that no further cuts are made.
It is very widely recognised that cuts in education make no sense as they have a negative impact on our economic competitiveness and a disproportionate effect on the most disadvantaged students.
The limited reversal of some of the cuts that was announced recently in the new Programme for Government is to be welcomed as a step in the right direction, as is the commitment not to worsen the staffing ratios for first and second level schools.
The new programme however did not address the funding cuts in Higher Education, nor did it address the critical and artificial shortage of places in Further Education colleges and Post Leaving Cert (PLC) courses caused by the imposition of a cap on places in spite of hugely increased demand.
Our fellow citizens urgently need access to places, particularly in this time of economic crisis and high - and rising - unemployment. What is the social or economic logic for denying them the opportunity to up-skill and improve their prospects of securing employment? Surely none.
Economic recovery needs a change in thinking in Irish politics: We need to work together towards A smarter future for all. Education is the key to this future and to our economic recovery. It must be safeguarded as an equal right for all children, particularly those who are most vulnerable.
The spending of the state in Ireland is low by any acceptable measurement. While significantly increased investment in education may be unrealistic at present given the current income deficit we nonetheless would advocate that there be an agreement to increase the education budget to 7% of GDP over a period of time to be agreed.
