IPPN

Published: 11 January 2007

A Chara,

Fáilte ar ais agus ath-bhlian faoi shéan is faoi mhaise dhuit.

Conference 2007

Final arrangements for Killarney are underway and the event promises to be both stimulating and entertaining. We look forward to meeting many of you at Conference. Due to high demand, we have arranged with the hotel to increase capacity for workshops. If you would like to attend Conference, please contact the IPPN Support Office on 1890 21 22 23.

Text-a-Sub

This service has proven to be an essential support for Principals in finding substitute teachers. The fact that it enables you to contact only those substitutes that are currently available is a major time-saver.

Recently we have learned that an individual falsely claiming to be a qualified teacher registered with TextaSub and responded to a call from a Principal. This raises the question about the verification and authenticity of anyone applying for work in a school. TextaSub is just another means of locating available teachers. Whether a Principal / Deputy Principal sources a substitute teacher through a newspaper advert, the local unemployment centre, Education Centre or a website, the responsibility to verify the qualifications and suitability of the individual candidate is the same.

IPPN's advice is that no matter how you find a substitute teacher (or indeed any staff member), you should request that a copy of their qualifications, accompanied by a passport, driving licence or other official photo-ID, be presented prior to commencing work. It is also reasonable to ask substitute teachers where they have worked recently so that an oral reference can be sought from those schools.

In summary, the Board of Management, through the Principal, is responsible for recruitment regardless of the means by which it is carried out. A clear disclaimer to this effect can be seen on www.textasub.ie.

Note: Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001, when commenced, will make it obligatory for all teachers working in schools to be registered with the Council. As of now only new entrants to the profession are required to provide relevant details to employers. It is anticipated that section 30 will commence in 2007.

Meanwhile, TextaSub.ie has helped hundreds of Principals to find thousands of substitute teachers in the last three years. It takes three minutes to send out your message, giving you access to the substitute teachers currently available in your county. If you haven't availed of this service, which is free to IPPN members, check it out!

Is sinne le meas,

Tomás Ó Slatara, Seán Cottrell