‘Schools need investment to protect and champion inclusivity in a rapidly changing world,’ ASTI President
Second-level schools are embracing inclusivity, but require far greater investment to address challenges arising from rapid socio-political shifts across the world, an ASTI conference heard today.
“School communities are embracing the values of inclusivity but they require significant investment and supports to address the effects of socio-political shifts, wars and conflicts, emerging youth mental health issues, and enduring inequities in a rapidly changing world,” ASTI President Donal Cremin told an ASTI conference on inclusivity in second-level schools.
Mr Cremin said Ireland is ranked last out of 34 countries for investment in second-level education as a proportion of country GDP, as reported in the OECD publication Education at a Glance 2024.
“Investment is required to reduce class size and improve access to supports such as guidance and counselling and specialist services, thereby helping schools to ensure all students can thrive,” said Mr Cremin.
An ASTI class size in 2020 found that average class size at Junior Cycle in Ireland is higher than both the OECD and EU averages. In the survey, 85% of teachers agreed that class size often inhibits their capacity to deploy adequate differentiation strategies.
“Smaller classes would allow for a greater focus on differentiated teaching and learning which is central to an inclusive education,” Mr Cremin told the conference.
Teachers from all over the country are attending the conference in Dublin today where they will hear from Dr Richard Hogan on adolescent boys and toxic masculinity, Megan Berry on members of the Travelling community in our schools, and Nicola Beagan on dealing with dyslexia and neurodiversity in the classroom.
The conference is being moderated by Séamus Dooley of the National Union of Journalists UK and Ireland.
ENDS
Issued by Gemma Tuffy, Communications Official. Tel: 01/6040172; email: [email protected]
