Government’s failure to protect education affects us all

Posted on February 02, 2011 at 11:03 PM

Inequality in society is damaging for everyone, including the better off. This is the conclusion of the book The Spirit Level, which examines a multitude of data and research on the issue.

Education is one of the most effective ways to tackle inequality. Equal access to education means the following for a person: you are more likely to work, pay taxes, be happy, be healthy, and participate in democracy. You are less likely to be unemployed, participate in crime, become / remain marginalised. Equality of access for the educationally disadvantaged benefits us all.

I raised the issue of cuts in educational support for Traveller children with the outgoing Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan in the Dáil recently. Budget 2011 includes the axing of 600 resource teachers for Travellers and 42 visiting teachers for Travellers. Pre-school supports for Traveller children are also being withdrawn. This is just one example of how the educationally disadvantaged (and politically marginalised) were targeted in the Budget.

In her reply to me, Mary Coughlan stated that “the Government has taken the decision to provide educational teaching supports to Traveller students on the same basis as other students in schools.” This response demonstrates little understanding of the issues specific to Travellers and Traveller education. It ignores the reality that Traveller children are marginalised and that equality in terms of access to education can only be achieved if these children are protected and supported. 

The outgoing Tánaiste’s reply also confirmed that the reason supports for Traveller education are being withdraw is so the Department of Education can meet cost-saving targets. The fact is vital supports are being cut for short term savings and there is no specific commitment to replace these resources.

One of the supports axed – the visiting teachers for travellers service – is said to be one of the most successful initiatives in Traveller education. The service addresses issues specific to Traveller children and Traveller education. Visiting teachers work with families, schools and other agencies to assist the participation of Traveller children in education at all levels from pre-school to Third level.

Approximately 4% of Traveller children finish their second-level education (only about 10% transfer from primary to second-level). Around .4% go on to achieve a degree or higher at Third level. However, there has been progress in Traveller participation in recent years. For example, a 2006 report on Traveller education found a three-fold increase in the number of Traveller students attending second-level schools since 1998. This valuable progress will be eroded if we do not support our Traveller children.

Following its analysis of Budget 2011, the children’s charity Barnardos stated: “The cuts to Traveller-specific services is a short-sighted saving that will cement intergenerational cycles of disadvantage in the Traveller community.” The teachers’ union TUI said: “The Government seems intent on snuffing out the educational flame for Travellers as one of its final acts.”

The truth is, educational inequality is damaging for the majority of us.

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