Motion no: 42
Congress, recognising the link between education investment, improved quality of life, economic competitive advantage and a more equal society, calls on Governments North and South to prioritise education spending at primary level to ensure that: expenditure per pupil at primary level is increased to above the OECD average;Irish class sizes are reduced to the OECD average; the recent 15 per cent cut in teaching for children with special needs is reversed; supplementary English language teaching and additional teaching for Traveller children are restored schools are not required to rely on voluntary contributions or local fundraising to meet standard operating costs; the decision to end both the Summer Works Scheme and the minor repairs gran is reversed; funding for book rental schemes matches the real cost of such schemes; h) a broadband connectivity programme similar to second level is extended to funding for the repair and replacement of ICT is provided to schools on an annual basis; j) the conditions of employment of teachers and all education workers are protected; school curricula are not narrowed in response to testing and regimes which narrow the education experience; l) teachers and education workers are consulted on all aspects of proposed education reform.
