Navan school facing loss of five teachers next September

Parents of children attending St Joseph's Mercy Primary School in Navan will stage a protest this Friday morning against cuts that will see the school lose five teachers in September. In recent years, the school already lost five staff members and the latest round of budget cuts will see staffing levels further hit with the loss of five more positions in September. While there were 34 staff members in 2008, this is down to 29 at present and will drop to just 24 in September unless the decision to remove legacy posts is reversed. The reduction in staff levels comes at a time when pupil numbers are increasing and demand for places has meant there is waiting list for next September. There are currently 479 pupils in the Mercy school. A staffing appeal to the Department of Education will be heard on 18th April and the school's parents' association will hold its protest on Friday to highlight the issue ahead of that date. School principal Mary Walsh explained that the five posts being withdrawn are 'legacy' posts.