Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has said we should mark International Day of Education today by reflecting on the vital role that our schools play in society.
Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s spokesperson for Education, said:
“Covid-19 has made it clear that our schools and school community provide more than just places to learn for our young people. Schools are also where our children develop important social and emotional skills and form lifelong friendships.
“Teachers and principals are not just educators – they are often influential role models for our young people as they make their journey to adulthood.
“It continues to be a very challenging time for education and I would like to pay tribute to the school principals, teachers, SNAs and other school staff for their efforts on behalf of students. Our young people also deserve great credit for having to adapt to new ways of learning during Covid-19 – it has not been easy for them.
“The Government should use International Day of Education to commit to further investment in this area. Equality of education is indispensable to the functioning of our society, yet our classrooms are among the largest in Europe and investment in technology and infrastructure is among the lowest.
“We need to commit ourselves to investing in education fully, not just in the middle of Covid-19, but for when we are out the other side of this pandemic.”
January 25, 2021