Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 25/03/2011. Tags: Primary School News Teachers News
The limit on the number of special needs assistants (SNAs) available in the Irish
education system is going to be a problem for all school kids, it has been argued.
Sheila Wayman, writing for the Irish Times, stated that having fewer SNAs per class is not only going to have an impact on children with special needs, but other pupils too.
In December 2010, the government announced that SNA staff in Ireland will be restricted to 10,575 and this figure will not go up when the new school year starts.
It also revealed that cuts will be made in the amount of money given to primary and
secondary schools in the nation by five per cent.
Ms Wayman commented that by not having support to help with youngsters who need more one-to-one attention,
teachers will have less time to spend with the rest of the class.
Pat Goff, president of the Irish Primary Principals Network, told the newspaper: "I would hate to think a school would rule out a child because he has a disability."
However, he added that a lack of SNAs could jeopardise the education of all pupils in the facility.
Written by Donal Walsh
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