The Government is seeking to allay fears it plans to raise the school starting age to five or abolish transition year in a raft of radical cost-cutting measures.
Primary teachers have attacked the proposal, branding it educational and economic madness that goes against everything known about early childhood.
The idea was promoted within the Department of Education by the previous Government as drastic cost saving measures were explored.
The Department of Education said no decision has been made on the idea as a new cost-saving plan for the sector is being rewritten.
“No decisions whatsoever have been taken in relation to changing the school-going age of children or abolishing the transition year,” the department said.
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation [INTO] said there is evidence of huge economic rewards to be reaped from early childhood education. Sheila Nunan, INTO general secretary, said the proposal would have huge educational consequences for children.
“If this goes ahead many children will not be allowed into school until they are six. They will be locked outside schools at the very age when they learn most and gain most from the education system,” she said. “Early childhood development programmes are rarely portrayed as economic development initiatives. That is a mistake.”
The INTO warned that pushing school starting age to five could see some children not starting until they are six.
“Young people who get a good early childhood education are more likely to complete second level education, own their own homes, are less likely to repeat classes, need special education, or get into future trouble with the law. There are clear social gains as well.”
The proposal also sparked fears over how hard-pressed parents could cope with another year of childcare costs.
Ms Nunan said: “For many families childcare costs are on a par with mortgage repayments. Expecting hard pressed families to come up with another year of child care is not possible.”
The cost-saving proposals also included a €3,000 sign-on fee for third level education.
The ideas were floated in a briefing document sent from the Department of Education to the Department of Finance during the last government.