School Completion Programme 27/8/08

Statement by John Carr, INTO General Secretary, On the School Completion Programme

27th August 2008
 
Decision to cut funding to School Completion Programme must be reversed – INTO
 
The INTO said today that the decision by the Department of Education and Science to apply a 3% payroll cut to the School Completion Programme would directly affect poor and vulnerable pupils in primary schools. The union called for the decision to be reversed.
 
According to the union’s General Secretary, John Carr, the announcement of a cut is a complete reversal of the commitment given by government in July not to impose the 3% cut on health and education.
 
“Two months ago the government stated clearly that government departments other than health and education would be required to reduce their payroll bill by 3% by the end of 2009,” he said. “Now the cuts are being applied to education.”
 
“Two months ago government stated it would seek to limit the negative effects of economic measures on vulnerable sections of the community,” said Mr Carr. “Today, we see cutbacks targeted at disadvantaged children.”
 
He said the cutback would impact directly on services such as breakfast clubs, homework clubs and extra school activities for poor children. “This is completely unacceptable,” he said. “It must not proceed.”

The School Completion Programme is part of a national plan to discriminate positively in favour of children and young people who are at risk of or who are experiencing educational disadvantage. It provides funding to schools to organize activities for children at risk and their families. The programme is funded on a multi-annual basis under the National Development Plan (NDP).

John Carr said many home, community and school-based factors can contribute to low school attainment and early school leaving. “The School Completion Programme is designed to allow schools to tackle these factors and improve children’s educational experience. Imposing cuts on a scheme that has had a positive impact on many aspects of young people's lives is unfair and inequitable. It will have long-term consequences if it is not rescinded.”  
 
ENDS.