This article is from page 12 of the 2012-02-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
CLARE VEC has been urged to write to Minster for Education and Skills to highlight concerns expressed over admissions policies in Limerick schools.
The February meeting of Clare VEC heard claims that children living in south east Clare had been refused admission to several schools in Limerick City.
Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF), a teacher at Parteen National School described any decision by a school to turn down an application as an “awful crush to the confidence of the student”. He said parents were concerned at the policies.
Cllr Crowe told the meeting that south east Clare is not serviced directly by a secondary school with many students going to schools in Killaloe, Shannon or Limerick.
He said it had been brought to his attention that Gaelcholáiste Luimní had turned down applications from young people in south east Clare. He called on the Clare VEC CEO, George O’Callaghan, to write to Gaelcholáiste Luimní, highlighting these concerns.
Cllr Crowe said the letter should be sent to the Gaelcholáiste as it is under the patronage of another VEC (Limerick City).
Mr O’Callaghan said the VEC had no authority to intervene in the ad- missions policies of schools in Limerick.
He said that while a letter could be written to “register” the committee’s concerns, it would be unfair to single out one school. He suggested that a letter be sent to patrons of all schools in Limerick City.
Cllr Peter Considine (FF) said school admissions are also an issue in Ennis. He told the meeting that the admission policies in place at Rice College and St Flannan’s College meant many students are not being accepted there.
Cllr Crowe claimed that the is aware of some Limerick schools where admissions are based on names being drawn randomly from a drum, something he described “as a very crude process”.
Cllr Crowe continued, “This has caused a lot of hurt. These are people living in our county and I’d like a letter to go the Minister outlining these concerns.”