South Down socio-economic divisions are as deep as ever with over twice as many non- grammar school pupils entitled to free school meals as their grammar school counterparts, according to a Killyleagh teacher.
Carney Cumper, President of the Ulster Teachers’ Union and a teacher at Killyleagh Integrated Primary, was commenting on recent statistics from the Department of Education which also revealed that almost a fifth of families entitled to free school meals are still not availing of the help.
She said: “With almost a third of our children in school coming from homes where low income entitles them to free school meals, Northern Ireland is again highlighted as one of the most deprived regions on the UK.
“Right from the start these children are ‘disadvantaged’, yet only about 80% of those entitled to the free meals are using them.
“The statistics also show that less than half the number of pupils in grammar schools (14%) as in non grammar schools (39%) are entitled to free school meals – showing, yet again, that the socio-economic divide in our society extends into the classroom too.
“Work has been done to close this gap and ensure that all children, regardless of the income of their families, have the same educational opportunities, but we have a long way to go.
“You only have to look at the exam and qualification success rates of our most economically deprived areas to see this dichotomy only too plainly.
“The system must also ensure that no stigma is attached to free school meal uptake. Thankfully the old colour-coded system is a thing of the past when it comes to dinner tickets and schools have embraced modern, discreet methods of payment.
“But more needs to be done to ensure all those entitled to free meals avail of them and every effort must be taken so families know what their entitlements are.
“As teachers we are only too aware of the importance of good nutrition for our pupils. A hungry child or an under-nourished child is in no fit state to learn anything.
“It is a travesty that in this country in this day and age we are still takling about child poverty – but sadly it is a reality, and dare I say it, increasingly so.
“This is an issue which must not be allowed to fall into abeyance simply because we have no workable government in Stormont at the moment.
“Issues like these – at the bottom of which are our children’s futures –depend on our politicians working together to find a way forward.”
