Summary

  • Education should be funded and managed exclusively by the State rather than handed over to various patron bodies.
  • Develop a National Childcare Service to offer educational supports as early as possible.
  • Bring class sizes down to a ratio of 18:1.
  • Abolish all requirements for compulsory religious instruction.
  • Capital Investment at primary and post-primary level to ensure science labs, computer labs and well-furnished classrooms with Wi-Fi access and iPads/tablets.
  • All schools to be provided with fast, free and filtered broadband so that it can become an integral part of classroom learning.
  • School transport, uniforms, meals, educational materials and play and PE facilities provided free in all schools.
  • Small schools to be protected and supported in line with the wishes of local communities and parents, particularly in rural areas.
  • Employ lab assistants to cater for Science and ICT classes
  • Restore supports for vulnerable pupils and all those with special educational needs
  • Autism proof all schools to give every pupil the chance to develop.
  • Additional resources for disadvantaged and traveller students, including smaller classes and one-to-one tuition as necessary.
  • Emphasize critical thinking and lifelong learning not rote learning for competitive exams.
  • Introduce modules on philosophy, political economy, arts and media studies in second level to promote creativity and civic awareness.
  • Reverse the increase in formal working hours imposed on teachers and SNAs through the imposition of “Croke Park hours”.
  • Support teachers in their fight to end pay inequality.
  • Abolish university ‘registration’ fees; extend and improve maintenance and back-to-education grants.
  • Subsidise accommodation for students who have to travel to go to university.
  • Redirect money from giving R&D tax credits corporations to the university sector in order to do blue sky research.