Fee-paying schools ‘cherry-picking pupils’
Government inaction is leading to a form of “education apartheid” in Irish schools, according to Sinn Féin education spokesperson Seán Crowe.
Commenting on Department of Education and Science figures which reveal that some schools are failing to live up to their responsibility to children with special education needs, Crowe claimed that some schools are ‘cherry-picking’ pupils.
“I am calling on Minister (For Education, Mary) Hanafin to enforce the stipulation in the Education Act, which prohibits restricted school enrolment policy based on academic achievement or socio-economic background,” he said.
“While the minister has criticised such schools who engage in this activity, she has failed to act to prevent this two-tier system from growing.”
“We now have a situation in which schools in disadvantaged areas are struggling to cope with special needs provision, while so-called elite fee-paying schools are avoiding their responsibilities and failing children with special education needs.
“This scenario where the doors of certain schools are closed to certain students is blatant discrimination and is unacceptable. Is it any wonder such schools boast of high places in the league of feeder schools to university when they actively implement a policy of cherry-picking the pupils from primary schools?
“While some improvements have been achieved regarding higher education access for disadvantaged students, overall top university courses are still largely the preserve of students from wealthy backgrounds.”
