Education is not being valued by FG/Lab coalition - O' Súilleabháin

Speaking after the value education protest outside the Dail yesterday, Wexford Sinn Féin spokesperson on education Fionntán O' Súilleabháin accused the government of not honouring its promises concerning education.  Mr O' Súilleabháin, a teacher and INTO member, said that Fine Gael and Labour had completely back tracked on promises not increase class sizes and to protect the quality of the educational experience received by our children.

Mr O' Súilleabháin said;

"In 2011 Fine Gael and Labour made a string of promises regarding what they would do to protect our education system when in power.  They have not honoured these promises.  Enda Kenny said that he wished to protect the quality of the educational experience received by our children.  That was before he initiated serious life altering cuts to the SNA programme."

"Many newly qualified teachers are now earning 20% less than their colleagues  who entered the profession a couple of years earlier.  Incredibly those are the lucky ones.  Many cannot find full employment and are forced into short term or part time work contracts.  This is having a demoralising effect on teachers across this state."

"What makes it worse is that we need more teachers.  The government has failed to honour its promise to prevent an increase in class sizes.  The last thing we need now is for young teachers to be forced to emigrate while many children fall through the cracks in our education system due to over sized classes."

"The government continues to preach the need for a strong educated workforce in order to return to sustainable employment levels.  Its time they practised what they preached and moved to safeguard education and our children's future."