Dear Editor,
The article “Calls for Additional Lab Funds to Assure Equitable Leaving Cert” (News, June 17th) refers to apprehensions that mirror a recent poll conducted by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI). It was found that nearly 48% of participants disputed the claim that their schools were equipped with adequate facilities to handle updated syllabi for subjects like biology, physics, and chemistry by 2025/26.
The urgent need for substantial supplementary resources is undeniable if we wish to guarantee equal opportunities for all students in any revamp of the Senior Cycle. Our policymakers have persistently neglected to allocate the requisite resources to our educational framework. As per the latest OECD statistics, Ireland’s secondary education expenditure ranks at the bottom amongst countries with available data. Astonishingly, our investment in education equates to only 1% of GDP, which is half the OECD mean.
However, notwithstanding the continual international underinvestment, Ireland consistently outperforms in global metrics, most recently seen in the 2022 Pisa study, a testament to the excellence of our teachers and the dedication of our students.
In the continuous redevelopment of our Senior Cycle, parity and equal opportunities should form the bedrock. This implies that reasonable funding should be assured for every school, irrespective of its size and location. The impact of this comprehensive transformation is too great for it to be under-resourced.
Yours faithfully,
DAVID WATERS,
President,
Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI),
Rathgar,
Dublin 6W.