Campaign calls for target investment in Education of 7% of GDP
3 Nov 2009
A new education campaign launched today, which brings together parents and teachers, has called for a target investment in education of 7% of GDP.
The campaign Stand Up for Education is also calling for the Government not to target education for further cuts in the December budget and to reverse cuts imposed over the past year as soon as possible.
The campaign is being sponsored by the Teachers' Union of Ireland and supported by the National Parents Association for Vocational Schools and Community Colleges (NPAVSCC).
NPAVSCC Secretary Jackie O'Callaghan said that the initiative is highlighting the need for a long term commitment to greater investment in education. Ireland currently spends approximately 4.7% of GDP on education which is well below the OECD average of 5.7%. Countries such as Denmark, Iceland, Korea and the US are spending in excess of 7%.
Ms. O'Callaghan said: "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."
TUI General Secretary Peter MacMenamin welcomed the reversal of some of the cuts in the recently announced revised programme for Government but said that it did not go anywhere near far enough to plan appropriately for education in the future.
In particular he said: "The new programme 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.
"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."
There are alternatives
Acknowledging that scale of investment increase sought Ms. O'Callaghan stressed that there are alternatives to the current menu of cuts which the Government is proposing.
"We have been railroaded into thinking that cuts to our public services is the only way to tackle our economic deficit. We believe that we need a wider debate on our values and direction as a society.
"We believe that the fairest and smartest option is to radically review how the taxation system works, distribute wealth and opportunity more equally in our society and protect frontline services. We believe that those who earn most - in either the public or private sector - should contribute most, according to their means."
More information on the campaign is available at www.standupforeducation.ie
The campaign will be launching a petition seeking wide public support for its stated objectives and seeking meetings with politicians to present its case. It will also be gathering support from a wide range of social organisations, and the public, in the run up to the budget in December.
Short Term Demands
Specifically the campaign is calling for the following to be protected in the December 2009 budget.
At second level
- Adequate staffing levels in schools to protect
- Subject choices and subject levels within the school
- Career options for students
- Supports for children with particular needs
- Class sizes
- Length of the tuition week
- Alternative programmes for schools
- Leaving Cert Applied
- Junior Certificate Schools Programme
- Transition Year
- Funding for schools maintenance and for specific programs at current levels at the least
- Restoration of the funding for schools to fund school books to those in most need.
- Removal of the moratorium on middle management posts in schools so that they can make the necessary vital appointments such as year heads and examination secretaries.
- Despite the recent commitments in the new Programme for Government that there will be no further staffing cuts, despite the small increase in the number of teachers and the limited restoration of funding to schools there remains a serious problem.
- The cuts in the pupil/teacher ratios imposed in the 2008 Budget remain in place and have the direct effect of reducing subject options, amalgamating class levels e.g. Higher and Ordinary level courses which should be separate. These cuts require to be reversed.
Supports for Traveller education
- Adequate appropriate support for Traveller education at all levels.
At Further Education/Adult Education Post Leaving Certificate
- Greater recognition of the role of the sector in the Government's Employment Activation Programme i.e. Greater use of the education system in the provision of courses for those without work.
- Greater numbers of places on PLC and other adult education courses - removal of artificially created limits on enrolment on PLC and other Further Education courses including the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme and the Back to Education Initiative.
- Removal of the Moratorium which is preventing the filling of co-ordination posts and killing adult education
- A comprehensive Adult Guidance scheme to provide advice on courses to the unemployed.
At Third Level
- Greater recognition of the role of the sector in the Government's Employment Activation Programme
- Increased staffing to cater for the steep increase in student numbers
- Funding for the necessary programmes in the Institutes of Technology
- Permission to allow for the filling of all necessary appointments in the interest of students and of the quality of their courses.
For Families
- Restoration of school book grants
- A freeze on the level of registration charges for Third level colleges - Institutes of Technology and Universities
- A freeze in the school transport charges.
Further Information
www.standupforeducation.ie
Ronan Cavanagh, Montague Communications: (01) 830 3116 or (086) 317 9731.
