figures "extremely worrying"
(11 Dec 2008)
Comments from TUI President Don Ryan on NEWB report issued today
“It is extremely worrying that over 100,000 children miss more than 20 days each year. Not surprisingly, the problem is greater among children who live in more disadvantaged areas. Inevitably, many of these children will be among the 18% of students who commence first year at second level but fail to complete the Leaving Certificate”.
This report is timely in that it highlights that non attendance remains at an unacceptable high level and a concerted effort to address underlying issues is required.
The TUI especially welcomes that the report emphasises the link between poor attendance and social exclusion and the major affect non attendance has on educational outcomes.
The reiteration that the non-attendance is linked to socio economic disadvantage and poor performance in State examinations should draw the government back to reality and show how truly shameful some of the recent budget cutbacks are.
The report sends them a clear message that what is needed in schools is additional and stronger capacity. Yet the withdrawal of grant aid from schools for essential programmes such as the Junior Cert School Programme and the Leaving Cert Applied funds and a reduction in the overall number of teacher in the system will diminish capacity in schools to support the most at risk, not build it.
Data of this significance is a reminder that despite the economic downturn investment in education is paramount to counteracting deepening social inequity and inequalities.
The TUI anticipates that these problems will intensify, resulting in irreparable harm to the prospects of a whole generation of school-goers, unless the worst of the budget cutbacks to education are reversed."