Ciara Conway Welcomes Review of DEIS Schemes
Issued : Monday 16 January, 2012
Areas : Waterford , South East ,
Labour T.D. for Waterford, Ciara Conway is welcoming a decision by the Education Minister, Ruairi Quinn, to review the extra teaching and resource supports for DEIS schools.
The decision is in response to concerns that DEIS schools could lose extra supports, which could have increased pupil teacher ratios in many cases.
New research has shown that the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) scheme is having a positive effect on tackling educational disadvantage.
“After the budget , I was contacted by DEIS schools in Waterford City and Dungarvan, and the primary school Principals took the time to express their concerns about changes proposed in the budget.
The Principals were keen to point out that the DEIS programme is having a significant impact when it comes to tackling key issues like literacy and numeracy which in the past was significantly lower in areas of disadvantage ,putting these children behind the curve. DEIS is proving its worth and its positive impact has been confirmed by three reports from the Department of Education and Skills Inspectorate and the Educational Research Centre, published just this week.
This is an issue very close to my heart. I am in no doubt as to the value of the DEIS programme in breaking the cycle of poverty within families, and intergenerational educational disadvantage.
We had a series of meetings with the Education Minister, and I am pleased to hear that he has decided to place the matter under review, so that the Department can look at how individual schools will be impacted.
It will mean that savings will have to be made elsewhere within the Department of Education, but to my mind it is very important that resources which are proven to help those most in need are protected.<ENDS>
