February 2009

 

Special Teacher Cuts will have Dire Long-Term Effects – INCLUSION IRELAND

Inclusion Ireland, as the National Association for People with an Intellectual Disability, is shocked and outraged by the Department of Education’s decision to cut the number of special needs classes which support up to 900 children with a mild learning disability.

The Department of Education has stated its intention is to cut 128 teaching posts because the number of children does not meet the minimum requirement of nine pupils per class, with mild learning disabilities.

Children with mild learning disabilities need additional support at primary school level and they will not get that appropriate support in overcrowded classrooms. Inclusion Ireland CEO Deirdre Carroll says she is aware of many adults with a mild intellectual disability who were failed by the school system and are now without jobs, education or support from disability services.

Waiting lists for psychological assessments are extremely long, as has been recognised by the Department itself. Placing children who had been in special classes into mainstream classrooms, where we know that pupil numbers are often over thirty, is condemning them to failure.

Inclusion Ireland believes these cuts are a retrograde step that will cost the state more in the long term.

Inclusion Ireland is angry that the vulnerable are being targeted and calls on the Government and the Minister for Education to show their social responsibility, and reverse this retrograde decision immediately.In a 2008 Inclusion Ireland attitudes survey*, 97% of those polled said they believe children with an intellectual disability have a right to all health and education services recommended by an independent assessment. 

[*The nationally representative poll of 1,000 adults aged 15+ was conducted by Behaviour & Attitudes Marketing Research via telephone in March 2008 and fully adhered to ESOMAR guidelines.] 

ENDS

 

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