Teachers claim substitute measures will cost state more
- Published: 08 December 2008
Source : Irish Examiner
PRIMARY school managers have warned that cuts in teacher substitution will result in greater cost for the Government instead of savings, despite an invitation from Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe to talks aimed at resolving the issue.
Their statement was made as up to 60,000 people took to the streets of Dublin on Saturday to protest against the substitution measures and other education cutbacks in the 2009 budget.
The crowds marched through the city centre to Merrion Square, where leaders of the four teacher unions were among those to address the crowds in relation to staffing changes which will increase class sizes and, at second level, restrict subject choices.
The massive turnout came two days after Mr O'Keeffe announced extra funding to increase the level of substitution cover which second-level schools can provide from January for teacher absences. He also invited primary school managers to discuss ways of finding savings which would allow similar arrangements for the 3,300 primary schools.
A statement from bodies representing primary school boards said they welcome his openness to discussions, but they still believe the substitution measures will result in unjustifiable levels of disruption in schools and additional costs to the State.
Mr O'Keeffe has said that from January the Department of Education will not pay for a substitute if a teacher's sick leave is uncertified.
But it has been suggested that teachers are more likely to get a doctor's certificate if they miss just one day through illness because the school would otherwise be unable to call in a substitute.
They might then stay out of work for the duration of the certificate, meaning a substitute being paid for a few days instead of just one day. "We look forward to engaging with the minister and the Irish National Teachers' Organisation to ensure the substitution issue is resolved. Unless this is resolved, it may become an embarrassing 'cost cutting measure' that increases state expenditure," the management bodies said.
"Our statements on the counter-productive, short-sighted and costly nature of the budget measures on education, cannot be dismissed as mere apologies for the agenda of trades unions," they said.
The campaign against the cuts has been described by some as self-interest by teacher unions, particularly in relation to class sizes.
Mr O'Keeffe has said the quality of teachers is the most important aspect and that the cuts will not be reversed.
