THE loss of library staff at 30 schools in some of the country’s poorest communities could lead to more children dropping out of education, teachers have claimed.
Terence MacSwiney Community College in Knocknaheeny on Cork’s northside is one of those schools which was equipped with an upgraded library three years ago in an effort to improve literacy skills.
But the dedicated librarians who were employed to ensure the facilities are put to best use have now learned their contracts will not be renewed.
Deirdre Bevan, co-ordinator of the Junior Certificate Schools Programme (JCSP) and Leaving Certificate Applied at the school, said she fears the impact could include a reversal in the falling drop-out rates.
"There’s been definite improvement in our student retention since the library was opened, it’s really the heart of the school. There are students who are in fifth and sixth year who might not have stayed beyond Junior Certificate without the library being there," she said.
School librarian Ann Masterson opens it every morning before classes, helping students pick books suitable to themselves from the stock of 3,500 and also with computer programmes that help them improve their literacy.
"The homes in any disadvantaged area like ours often don’t have many books, but improving their literacy with a staffed library improves the students’ confidence, which encourages them to stay on to the Leaving Certificate," Ms Bevan said.
"The Government had promised not to target cuts at the most disadvantaged schools, but this is just what they’ve done and it’s going to be impossible to keep the library open now," she said.
Of 30 schools in the Library Demonstration Project, 22 are set to lose their full-time librarian, but some of the others may be retained as they are entitled to contracts of indefinite duration.
A spokesperson for Education Minister and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said commitments about disadvantaged schools only related to teachers and other frontline staff, but the librarians’ contracts are not being renewed because of the public service recruitment moratorium. He said Ms Coughlan’s officials are still lobbying the Department of Finance to allow the librarians continue beyond August, but the schools will still have the library facilities at their disposal.
"We appreciate that these staff help the schools put their libraries to best use, but the Government has to stick to the recruitment embargo."
The Labour Party’s Kathleen Lynch said library services are the last thing that should be cut at schools in areas with poor literacy levels.
"It’s essential for young people looking for jobs in the future to have a good education but if they are leaving school without proper literacy they will have no chance," said the Cork North Central TD.
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This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, June 04, 2010
