This article is from page 25 of the 2005-08-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 25 JPG
A KILKISHEN leaving cert student, his brother and sister could be stranded without school transport when school opens after summer.
The three Stewart-Dunne children may have to switch school following a Vocational Education Committee warn- ing that they may not have places on the
school bus in the new term – if they can get a place in a new school.
Anne Stewart, mother of Michael (16), John (14) and Emer (12) says she is “at a loss” to know what to do about her chil- dren’s education after receiving a letter from the VEC last week warning that there may not be any space for her chil- dren on the bus to their secondary school in Shannon come September.
“Michael is about to start in to his Leaving Certificate cycle, John has set- tled into school at Shannon and loves it there and Emer wants to go to school where her brothers and cousins go. For them to change and go to Tulla, which is the nearest school, would be a major disruption. We don’t know if the school in Tulla has places for them – I don’t even know if we should be applying there or getting ready for Shannnon,” said Anne.
A major consideration for Anne – who is a lone parent and works part-time – would be the cost of changing schools.
“It will set me back about €300 for uniforms alone and there is a free book scheme in Shannon. I don’t know if that applies in Tulla. I only work part-time and I don’t have that kind of money,’ the mother of three said.
The letter which Anne Stewart received a few days ago is one of thousands sent out to families nation-wide.
The letters were sent to parents who have opted to send their children to a secondary school other than the one Aeterna com nelsn0
Before now, children who travelled to school outside their catchment areas were classified as “boundary catchment pupils” and were allocated seats on the basis of availability but in practice, al- most every child got a place on the bus.
The letters are a result of the Govern- ment decision to end a “three for two” seating arrangement on school buses.
The Stewart children were enrolled ins school at Shannon so they could be educated with their extended family and be close to their grandad, who provides them with a hot lunch while their mum is working.
“I know that the Department of Educa- tion is trying to improve safety standards on school buses and that’s all to the good but instead of doing the decent thing and putting on more buses, they want children uprooted and taken away from school where they are doing well, “ said Anne.