Aibhistín Ó Coimin verbally abuses parents

Verbal abuse is the style of assistant deputy director for secondary Aibhistín Ó Coimin when he talks with the parents. During online meetings, he screams, threatens, and abuses parents if they don’t agree with the school’s policy of discrimination against minorities.

Why is school administration so nervous

The reason is that they are mistreating SWALS pupils. Each year they make it harder to learn their mother tongue. They are reducing the number of hours of mother tongue, they are combining classes (for example for S7 and S6 or S1 and S2…). Despite repeated warnings from pedagogical staff that it is impossible to properly prepare students for BAC with fewer hours.

When parents complain they play dumb and pretend it’s a big surprise for them although the parents association warns them each year.

Also, it is against the rules set up by the Board of governors and it was pointed out to them by the Secretary-general of European schools, although he was the one who pushed with such action in the beginning until another parent from another European school last year requested action and informed responsible in European Institutions.

Mismanagement of public money?

Presenting reduced hours and combined classes for SWALS as a cost-saving measure, while simultaneously appointing another well-paid deputy director in all European schools, Mr. Marcheggiano seems to contradict his own efforts. These financial directors do not seem to contribute to improving the efficiency and accuracy of public spending, as evidenced by the Court of Auditors consistently providing a negative assessment each year. Furthermore, the European Commission is voting again on the discharge of yearly accounts.

Despite the concerns raised to the Office of the Secretary-general of European schools and the request for action from a parent in many European schools, the Board of governors has not taken adequate measures to address the mismanagement of public money. This is evident in the contradictory actions of appointing a well-paid deputy director while presenting cost-saving measures such as reduced hours and combined classes for SWALS. The presence of financial directors in European schools does not seem to have improved the efficiency and accuracy of public spending, as highlighted by the consistently negative assessment from the Court of Auditors. Additionally, the European Commission is once again voting on the discharge of yearly accounts, indicating ongoing concerns about financial accountability.

European school Luxembourg 2 had a budget of 30.618.711,00€ for the fiscal year 2020-2021 and cost per pupil 11.483,00€. This amount is in the middle range of other European schools.

European school Luxembourg 2 spent in 2020 23.335.379,00€ for Salaries (second staff, locally recruited teachers and education support. They spent only 823.362,00€ on educational support which is 2,67% of the whole budget.

Actual costs for extra teachers who could help improve mother tongue teaching for SWALS would cost around 40.000,00€. This should be feasible with such a huge budget.

The goal of European schools is to teach children in their mother tongue.

Despite that goal, the administration of Mamer school and Office of the Secretary-general are neglecting this important point and prefer to have bigger and more expensive administration then provide excellent education to all the pupils.

Public officials must remember that they serve the public and utilize public funds. Consequently, their actions are subject to public scrutiny.

Actual costs for extra teachers who could help improve mother tongue teaching for SWALS would cost around 40.000,00€. This should be feasible with such a huge budget. The goal of European schools is to teach children in their mother tongue. Despite that goal, the administration of Mamer school and Office of the Secretary-general are neglecting this important point and prefer to have bigger and more expensive administration than provide excellent education to all the pupils. They are forgetting that they are all public servants and are spending public money so whatever they do can be and has to be scrutinized publicly. Public officials must remember that they serve the public and utilize public funds. Consequently, their actions are subject to public scrutiny.

However, they are well aware of things that are wrong with the European school system and one of them is Secretary-General and directors not being accountable for their actions.