Teachers: we'll step up street protests
THE Government is facing the prospect of tens of thousands of teachers and parents on the streets over the coming month as the pressure is turned up to reverse the education cuts announced in the Budget.
More than 8,000 braved appalling weather conditions in Galway in the first of a series of nationwide protests that left Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe and his Cabinet colleagues in no doubt about the anger at the impact of the cutbacks.
And with further protests scheduled for Offaly, Cork and Donegal in the weeks ahead, culminating in a mass rally in Dublin on December 6, Mr O'Keeffe is now under intense pressure to row back on at least some of the measures.
The Irish National Teachers Organisation, which called Saturday's protest, had hoped for a crowd of about 5,000, but that figure was quickly revised downward when heavy rain driven by gusting winds blew through the streets of Galway city centre from mid-morning.
But the turnout, estimated by gardai at more than 8,000, delighted INTO officials.
"It's a wonderful turnout and it just goes to show the depth of feeling among teachers and parents at these cutbacks", said INTO vice-president Maire Ni Chuinneagain. The national teachers union was joined by members of the Teachers Union of Ireland, the Primary Principals Network, Catholic Primary Schools Managers Association, the National Parents Council and opposition politicians in the march from Eyre Square to a rally at the car park of Galway Cathedral.
Messages
They carried placards with pointed messages for the Education Minister, including 'Battman, You're The Joke' and 'As Blind As A Batt'. INTO general secretary John Carr called on the public to let every public representative know of their opposition to the Budget cuts.
"Today we are sending the minister a message -- the Government won't be allowed to ravage primary education".
INTO president Declan Kelleher said the huge turnout showed the strength of the alliance between parents, teachers and management in primary schools.
Representative of school boards of management, Sister Geraldine Costello, said the cutbacks were shortsighted and against the national interest.
"The losers in all of this will be the children," she said.
- Brian McDonald
