On Friday 26th July, the SIPTU Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon (SLR) District Council will launch its third annual Markievicz/Partridge summer school at 5 p.m. in the Bush Hotel, Carrick on Shannon, county Leitrim. The theme of this year’s summer school is “Equality and early years; the right to a public service.” The second day of the summer school will be held on Saturday, 27th July in the Southern Hotel, county Sligo from 10.30 a.m. Markievicz/Partridge summer school coordinator, Ashling Dunne, said: “This year, we have decided to host the summer school in both Leitrim and Sligo. This enables us to extend the reach of the school to both counties. We have an exciting range of academic and vocational speakers lined up for the event which is open and free for members of the public to attend.” SIPTU Organiser, Sandra Flanagan, said: “This event is being organised by our SLR District Council members to discuss early years education and the effect low pay is having on these vital workers in communities across Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon. We have a number of speakers from the sector that will give details of their frontline experience and what union members can do to support the Big Start campaign.” Big Start Organiser, Ann O’Reilly said: “Low pay continues to undermine the delivery of quality Early Years education. The discussion at the summer school is part of a nationwide conversation involving SIPTU members on the importance of quality, affordable early childhood education and care.” Among the confirmed speakers over the two days are SIPTU General Secretary Designate Joe Cunningham, Assistant General Secretary ASTI, Moira Leydon, Dr Sheila Garrity, NUI Galway, SIPTU Honorary President, Padraig Peyton, Early Years Educators, Deborah Reynolds and John Davey and Chair of Leitrim Historical Society, John Feely.
Markievicz/Partridge summer school to focus on equality and early years
