Parents and students protest to save Assumption teacher

By Maurice Garvey

PARENTS and students held a protest on Wednesday morning, in an effort to save a teacher’s job – which will force the merger of fifth and sixth classes.

Assumption Girls National School in Walkinstown, pleaded with authorities to keep their current staffing levels, but were just seven pupils short of meeting requirements.

An appeal to the Department of Education wasturned down this week and this will lead to the loss of a teacher’s job on Friday (October 28).

Four, fifth and sixth classes, will have to be merged into three larger classes, at a school which struggles to cater for over 200 students in overcrowded classrooms.

The protest was organised by parents and supported by local politicians, including TD’s Aengus O’Snodaigh, Brid Smith and Joan Collins, who have asked Education Minister Richard Bruton to overturn the decision in the Dáil this week.

Assumption GNS applied for Developing School Status earlier this year based on increasing numbers, but lost out on an extra teaching post by virtue of the fact that some of their families moved out of the area due to rising rents.

The school expected to reach 230 pupils, but only 223 kids registered in September.

Assumption GNS Principal Christine Ferguson said the extra teaching post would have made a “big difference” in terms of facilitating students, but accepts it isn’t the only issue facing the school.

Mrs Ferguson said: “90 kids are going to be affected by this. We are putting 30 into a class, from current 22/24 per class level, so it leaves very little room. You never know until September, when you might find out a family have moved.”

“We do not have Deis status, despite being in a catchment area of high unemployment and disadvantage. We are among very few schools in Dublin 8,10, and 12 that do not have Deis status.”

Brid Larkin, a member of the parents association, said only 20 per cent of the student population come from the Walkinstown area, and the majority come from Deis areas.

“Classes are overcrowded, it’s an unhealthy and uncomfortable environment,” said Mrs Larkin.

“We hope this (protest) will lead to the decision being overturned. A teacher is also losing her job. Previous Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan promised the teacher student ratio would come down.”

The three local TD’s wrote to Education Minister Richard Bruton, declaring the “consequence of suppressing the teaching post will be immense.”