Education: Fury as Children Return to their Old Prefabs

Samantha Levine
Soc 202-02
9-1-09
Current Event One

Coming from the newspaper Independent based in Ireland, the news article Fury as Children Return to their Old Prefabs is based upon education by Ralph Riegal and Brian McDonald. Parents and school administrations are furious about the overpopulation at Scoil Bride. The school was originally built in 1949 for only 60 students. However, starting today, September 1st, 2009 the school had 230 students registered and attending class. Since the schools capacity is too small, 10 portacabins were arranged so students would have a classroom to attend.
Parents and school administration, such as the principal, Margaret Howard was promised several years ago that a new building would be added onto the school. By adding onto the school there would be a larger amount of space for the growing community. Unfortunately, there has not been any work done since word got out and there are no indications of breaking ground anytime soon. Parents got together last night and held a meeting which consisted of debate of “options and signs about the schools plight”. Along with the parent’s discontent, Margaret Howard stated that “it makes no sense for the department to pay €84,000 per annum on the rental of 10 prefabs when the land for a new school is already available”.
This issue is being well displayed through a Cork TD, the Education Minister Bratt O’Keeffe. Along with being already upset with how the overpopulation is going to affect students’ performance at Scoil Bride, the school is watching two other schools, Gaelscoil Clonakilty and St. John the Apostle National School open today with new additions. Gaelscoil Clonakilty opened the 2009-2010 doors with a new additional building. As of St. John the Apostle a whole brand new school was built to withstand 150 pupils. Although it is nice that these schools got their much needed space after over a decade and renting rooms at the back end of a local church, it is still hard for Scoil Bride to see these other schools who can support the given capacity of the allot students.

http://www.independent.ie/education/latest-news/fury-as-children-return-to-their-old-prefabs-1874318.html