INTO President on Early Childhood Education 13/04/09

Press Statement by Declan Kelleher, INTO President

Speech to INTO Annual Congress, Letterkenny
Monday 13th April 2009
Early Childhood Education

The President of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, Declan Kelleher told the union’s annual Congress in Letterkenny that packing Junior Infant classrooms with anywhere between 27 and thirty children under the care of one teacher is unacceptable and illogical. Mr Kelleher was speaking on the opening night of the union’s conference.

“Placing young children of 4, 5 and 6 years of age together in one enormous group is a direct negation of all that quality early childhood education should entail,” said Mr Kelleher. “It is mind boggling that state legislation demands a ratio of one adult to every eight children in a preschool or childcare setting but the same four year olds can be abandoned into classes of thirty or more in the local primary school.”

He described the proposal in last week’s budget to establish a free preschool year for all 3 and 4 year old children from next January as a pretence. “The infrastructure is not there,” he said. “Most parents will find they will be unable to access early childhood education for their children.”

He said Ireland’s approach to early childhood education makes us the laughing stock of the entire EU. “The education of young children is valued in Europe and no matter how bad the economy their education is nurtured and protected.”
 
ENDS.