Vow to fight closure proposals
CONCERNED parents of pupils at Clintyclay Primary School, which has been threatened with possible closure in August 2014, are promising to fight to save the school.
The primary, which has just 33 pupils, has been commended for its outstanding educational achievements by the Southern Education Library Board, and has also passed stringent financial viability tests.
However, its closure in August 2014 has been proposed by the board because of its low enrolment.
A concerned parent contacted the Tyrone Times to say that the news had been met with dismay by the local community.
“This announcement will obviously be a death knell for the school as parents will not send their pupils into P1 fearing that it might close by 2014”, he said.
“However, the closure will also tear the heart out of our community.
“This means that the current P4s will be the last class to make their First Communion in the local church, and in future, the local football team will also be badly hit.
“Pupils will want to play in the same team as their friends in whatever school they will be forced to move to.”
The father of a Clintyclay pupil said the proposal made no sense in financial or educatioal terms.
“I can’t work out how they’re going to save money, as the school manages its budget extremely well”, he said.
“Neighbouring schools are running at capacity, which means they will have to extend or use mobile classrooms which are not as suitable as a proper school building.
“The SELB will also have to run buses and pay to transport our children longer distances.
“The proposed closure will place hardships upon parents, and obviously be traumatic for pupils having to uproot themselves from the school they know and come to terms with a bigger class in a new environment.
“This wiil disadvantage them in terms of their education, especially those preparing for the transfer test.
“The board need to look to the future - and assist in the building of the local community rather than trying to destroy it.”
The parents say they will use the consultation period, which runs until June 30, to fight the closure.
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Weather for Dungannon
Saturday 25 May 2013
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