Inequality

In Ireland, the new Junior Cert will turn school against school and deepen social inequalities in education; as least that’s what their teachers say. Secondary school teachers strongly disagree with the Junior Cert reform plans which they say will create competition between schools and between different subject teachers within schools.  Parents do not know that ultimately the reform means students will no longer be awarded a State certificate for the Junior Cert rather a school certificate and will not face their first State examination at the age of 17 or 18. The problem lies in that it expresses concern the value of certification would depend on public and employer perception of the awarding school. Phase 1 of the new Junior Cycle is due to start in schools in 2014. There will only be three core subjects: English, Irish and maths. Other subjects will be offered in the form of short courses and schools will have autonomy in choosing and delivering them. Yesterday’s delegates were told affluent schools would offer better short courses than schools in socio-economically disadvantaged areas, turning school against school.

This new plan ensures those with the most financial resources will extract the most from the education system. Hardly anything offered in the disadvantaged schools will be able to compete with the offerings at the privilege schools. Kevin Brogan claims students will hold a school certificate that’s “not worth the paper it’s printed on.” This story sociologically perpetuates the idea of classism in a stratified society by the rewards and punishment of privilege verse non privilege; those on top verse those on the bottom and the institutional/ systematic inequality that maintains these polarized positions.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/new-junior-cert-to-deepen-social-inequality-claim-teachers-1.1346459
Rayna Tyson. April 5, 2013. 3:42 pm.