Education cuts

Opinion: Batt out of hell, don't make a meatloaf out of our education system.

With over 100,000 of our students in classes of more than 30 and with the majority of primary schools in Ireland relying on fundraising from local communities, the Government seriously needs to focus on reversing its savage cuts in the education system. It also needs to focus on the state the education system is already in, before taking away much needed funding from our schools.

With widespread dilapidated classrooms and 10% of our schools now regarded as charities under Irish tax code; people should not only feel the need to cry out for the government to reverse the cuts in our education system, but to invest in it. The government needs to ensure Ireland continues to have a highly skilled and educated workforce to help repair and rebuild our economy.

The Government cannot expect our economy to recover if future generations of our country are not properly educated. I mean how exactly will they be properly educated with larger class sizes, fewer teachers and little to no educational trips? Coupled with a massive reduction in the extracurricular activities that teach us skills from debating to soccer it seems the quality of education will slide.

People should not tolerate the state our education system is in now, let alone allow it to get worse. We need to cry out and continue crying out against these crimes against young people’s rights. We need to get organised through protests, emails, phone calls, texts, letters, petitions and public meetings.

Now is the time for not only the young people, but all the people in Ireland to stand up, join together and fight for a better education for young people and for the the future of our country.

If you’re interested in getting involved, in standing up for YOUR rights, you can:

• Join the HUGE protests organised by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO). Visit their website for all the details.
• Get involved in the National Youth Organisation by contacting nyo@live.ie.
• Take action from your very own home by sending an email or letter to your local TD or County Councillor.

Got an opinion that you want to get out there? You can always submit your own opinion piece for SpunOut.ie’s massive audience of young people in Ireland. Email all submission to emily@spunout.ie.

By: Aidan McGrath, National Youth Organisation.