Parents have expressed their anger at the dire situation surrounding the closure of a Wexford primary school.
Cushionstown National School outside New Ross in Co. Wexford was closed earlier this week due to an apparent absence and unavailability of independent school management and senior staff.
Attending a protest outside the school gates of Cushinstown NS, parents of children attending the school made deeply concerning claims surrounding the quality of education, staffing numbers, basic organisational structures, routine, and even having to pacify stressed children who had seen their teachers cry during class time.
Describing the impact this atmosphere was having on Cushionstown pupils, one visibly upset mother said her child "cries every morning, he doesn't want to be there; it's just heartbreaking to see it."
Children and parents protesting outside Cushinstown National School in #Wexford after the school was closed early for the Easter break on Wednesday.
Chants of “save our school” from kids this morning. pic.twitter.com/uxcZueT7Rr— Beat 102 103 (@beat102103) April 8, 2022
One grandparent made another worrying claim that pupils say had even overheard teachers shouting outside of the classroom. "These are highly educated people", she said. "My grandson has seen teachers crying and walking out of class - it's disgraceful."
One mother, named Debbie, lauded the school's excellent reputation up to 2019. However, since then she says things take a dramatic turn. "It's heartbreaking...[sometimes] the teacher leaves willy-nilly and the kids are left roaming around the school, roaming outside with no direction."
The protracted difficulties of the school were also felt by pupils, with one student bravely revealing that "teachers were not getting enough work in." He continued: "the school took us off for three days this week and my mammy is shocked by it... [we need] a better education for our class and our school."
Parents were notified by email on Tuesday afternoon that the school was closing three days early for the Easter break to protect the health and safety of pupils due to a shortage of teachers.
There was a threat of closure earlier this year due to a complete breakdown in the management of the school.
In a statement to Beat News the bishop's office says Cushinstown NS has a single manager on a volunteer basis, John Roche, who took the decision to close the school early for Easter due to the unavailability of staff.
Beat News has contacted the Department of Education for comment.
