Fund hitch hits project

THE TEACHERS at Collinstown Park Community College in Rowlagh, Clondalkin, Co Dublin, feel a bit let down. It's now too late to give special help to several first-year students who were most likely to drop out of school.

The youngsters were identified as being at educational risk last September. At that time, it seemed that help was on the way. There was excitement in the staffroom as plans to help these vunerable students were developed. EU funding could make a difference. The plans went ahead, co-ordinators were put in place, the groups of students were chosen. In-service training was provided and a schedule was put together.

Then came the hitch. For some administrative reason, money has not been forthcoming. "What's at issue is a tripartite agreement between Sweden, Ireland and a third country," says a spokesman for the Department of Education. "The actual disbursement of funds is being administered by an agency in Sweden and this money has not arrived yet."

Frank Savino, resource teacher in at the college, was in the process of setting up the proposed project which came under the EU's Aida banner. "There were a lot of glum faces around. It did have a promise of transformation."

Today he looks downhearted: "There is no spare money. Those first-years are now simply part of the system. Those youngsters won't reach third year. We had the mentors choosen - from Transition year - and the 16 first-years chosen. We had a plan for a leadership training programme for the older pupils. We were up and running once we got the extra teacher."

The project has younger children in mind, explains Savino, "because they have this wonder. It involves getting pupils to interview senior people in the school."

The plan arose from an idea which was tried at the college last year. Eight extremely weak students were chosen with a view to improving their chances of enjoying and benefiting from school. There was "massive input" of teachers' time and of leisure ideas, such as rewards for good attendance, recalls Savino. After a few weeks attendance improved up to 96 per cent.

"They are all still here," he says. "That plan worked for those eight youngsters."

THE Aida project involves training the younger students in interview techniques. "We were fairly confident that we would transform those 16 kids and that that would transfer to the school."

Savino believes that students drop out of school not because they have no interest but because "their homes can not be organised by 9 a.m. in the morning".

Last year's project sometimes involved going out and bringing the first-years into school. "I'd cruise around in the car and generally speaking they'd be coming out of the house."

It was intended that Collinstown Park Community College and St Kevin's Community College were going to use the Aida project together. Teachers from both schools spent one week in Portugal meeting teachers from other countries.

Libby Walsh, vice principal at Collinstown, says: "We are ready to go. We have chosen the students from Transition Year and from first year. It will require a lot of group work with the first-years, building up confidence, selfesteem, and training the Transition Years students as leaders." Now everything is on hold.

There are 751 students at the college which was built in 1984. Principal Brian Heming describes the staff of 54 as "youngish and committed". He believes that "the job is harder in a disadvantaged area, it demands a high level of commitment and ironically they still only get the same salary".

He is as disappointed as his staff about the stalled project. "These kids need extra help and we're not able to give it at the moment."

Collinstown is a busy school with a wide range of courses in both the traditional and the non-traditional areas, including VTP courses, FAS courses, Youthreach schemes and PLC courses. The message the school tries to get across, according to Fleming, is that "anyone who leaves school without qualifications, their prospects are worse. With a qualification you have a chance. It's very hard for them to accept this when they see so much unemployment around them."

The school's biggest problems is a lack of resources, says the principal. On a deeper level he talks of absenteeism, low ambition levels, lack of motivation, all stemming from their situation and unemployment levels. Many students do not see themselves as having great prospects. Another big problem is that many students must take part-time jobs working late at night in pubs or shops. It all reflects the economic situation for them".

DESPITE the Aida setback, despite general problems, Collinstown is a busy college with lots of cheerful students. Michelle Maguire, a Transition Year student, loves her school. "The teachers are very down to earth," she says.

"They teach you in their own way. There's a lot of freedom. It's not all rules and regulations. It's not strict. You can talk to your friends and discuss work." English is her favourite subject. "I want to do journalism," she says.

Pamela Brogan (14) is in third year. Her favourite subject is cookery. Dave Kane (15) loves art and woodwork. Elaine Kearney (14) has to think for a minute, torn between an interest in a number of different subjects. "I love cookery and art," she says with a smile.

Linda Kinsella (14) nods in agreement. They both hate Tuesday because they have a double maths and a double Irish class.

Some first-years are happily staying behind to rehearse for a school musical. Maria Glennon (12) is in first year. "I hate maths," she says decisively. She played a part in the school's musical, Oliver, earlier this year.

Angela Mayne (12) and Tricia Keys (12) also stayed back after school to rehearse. "I like my options," Angela says. Music and business studies and PE," Tricia concludes.