Tuesday 20 December 2011

Budget 2011 - Some Implications For Secondary Schools

Pupil/ Teacher Ratio
With effect from the 2012/13 school year guidance provision will have to be allocated by schools from within their standard teacher allocation. At present a separate allocation is made for guidance on an ex-quota basis. Guidance provision will be now included in the general staffing allocation to a school.  This measure is in effect an increase in the Pupil Teacher Ratio. This will leave principals with no option but to cut guidance provision, cut minority subjects and have larger classes.  


Funding
Overall there will be a 2% reduction in the funding for capitation and related grants to pr second level schools in each of 2012 and 2013 and a further 1% reduction in each of 2014 and 2015. A 2% cut in capitation and other grants in 2012 coming on top of a 5% reduction in 2011 means that many schools will find it impossible to make ends meet. The financial well-being of schools is even more acute when one considers increases of up to 10% in the cost of essential items such as insurance, energy and transport charges for extra and co-curricular activities.

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