ISLAND SCHOOL POPULATION NEARLY HALVED SINCE 1983



Connaught Telegraph, Mayo, Ireland 30 April 1997


INTO plea to Dept on Achill teacher numbers

By TOM SHIEL

WORRYING new figures show that the numbers of primary school pupils on Achill Island are continuing to plummet and school amalgamations are inevitable unless the decline is arrested.

There are now 406 pupils on the island's ten primary schools, a drop of 48 or 11 per cent on two years ago.

Only two centres showed an increase in roll numbers but in one of these, Derreens N.S., the improvement will be shortlived.

One teacher Derreens now has 18 pupils but this will have dropped back to 14 by the time the new term begins in September.

According to the INTO, there were 730 primary school pupils on the island in 1983 and the trend has been sharply downward since then. There were 624 in 1988; 474 in 1993 and 406 now, representing an overall drop in enrolment in 14 years of 44 per cent.

FIGURES

The total primary school enrolment in the Achill sector as of this week is 406 compared to 454 in 1995 when the last survey was carried out.

The breakdown is (1995 figures in brackets) :

  • Dooagh N.S. 59 (65)
  • Dookinella 39 (48)
  • Valley 16 (21)
  • Dooniver (Bullsmouth) 22 (27)
  • Saulia 35 (40)
  • Bunnacurry 77 (84)
  • Achill Sound 66 (76)
  • Currane 45 (52)
  • Derreens 18 (17)
  • Tonragee 29 (24).
Although the decline in roll numbers is not as steep as in the five year period up to 1995 when a 37 per cent reduction was recorded, the trend is still worrying.

Mr. Pat Conway, Secretary of the Achill Branch of the I.N.T.O,. said last night: "The decline can only be described as drastic and has serious implications for the primary school structure on the island.

"If the trend continues, and there's absolutely no sign that it won't then amalgamations will be inevitable. That is something which I as an INTO person am absolutely opposed to".

Mr. Conway is principal at Dooniver (Bullsmouth) which is set to become a one-teacher centre as a result of the latest figures.

"My case is the best example", he explained. "I have 22 pupils. I should have 23 in order to maintain my assistant teacher. My assistant will now be put on the panel".

CONTRADICTION

Mr. Conway pointed out the contradiction of a situation where the Achill primary school area has been declared underprivileged as part of the Department's 'Breaking the Cycle' programme and yet staffing levels were being run down.

"It's no use saying you are going to lessen the disadvantage by giving special grants for equipment if on the other hand the assistant teacher is taken away from us", Mr. Conway added.

The lone teacher at 18 pupil Derreens, Ms. Catherine Joyce told the 'Connaught Telegraph' her school had three teachers up to 1982 and had five teachers 31 years ago.

"It is difficult if not impossible for one person to teach infants from infants to 6th class", Ms. Joyce stated. "It is very frustrating for both children and pupils. Another problem is that the rolls are going up and down ever year because of emigration. It's like being on a seesaw".



Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - April 1997