PETITION AGAINST GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR CUTBACKS

Press Statement.

Cutbacks to Guidance Counsellors in our Schools

 

Date: 20th January 2012

 

National Parents Council post primary, in conjunction with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, are determined to continue to request Ruairí Quinn TD, Minister for Education and Skills to rescind his decision to place Guidance Counsellors in the mainstream quota of teachers in our schools.

 

This move essentially increases the Pupil Teacher Ratio, which will result in job losses and will more importantly from a student and parental point of view; remove what is a highly specialised area of education from our students.  It is a service which most people will not be able to access privately. It is a service our students need more than ever in a time when job prospects are abysmal and emigration looks like one of the few options our young people have. Emigration will not be (and is not currently) a life style choice, but indeed an even greater necessity.

 

The National Parents Council and the Institute of Guidance Counsellors jointly exhort the Minister for Education and Skills to reconsider his decision in the light of the long term damaging economic, educational and social and consequences for our young people. 

 

 

 

Jackie O’Callaghan

PRO National Parents’ Council post primary

 

Eilis Coakley

President

Institute of Guidance Counsellors

 

 

Regards

Sandra

 

Sandra Boylan
National Parents' Council pp