Ruairi Quinn rules out ending teacher moratorium [insideireland.ie]
- Published: 28 April 2011
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, has ruled out lifting the public service moratorium on filling promotional posts in schools.
The Teachers’ Union of Ireland called on the minister to lift the moratorium citing research that claimed that the loss of those teachers was leading to a rise in bullying and absenteeism.
Minister Quinn said that while the request to lift the moratorium was understandable, it will not be changed.
TUI President Bernie Ruane said that doing away with posts of responsibility was a “retrograde step” and a “cruel blow” to young people.
She said school is the only safe place many young people know and their year head is the only adult who has time to relate to them.
Minister Quinn said however that while the request to lift the moratorium was understandable, it will not be changed, and that it was essential that co-operation wins over confrontation to lift Ireland out of its financial crisis.
Full Story: www.insideireland.ie
Class size crisis could spark legal pay-outs [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 28 April 2011
SECONDARY schools could face significant legal costs if insurance firms decide to strip them of cover because chronic overcrowding levels are breaching Government safety guidelines.
The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has heard schools with more than 30 pupils per class are facing the potential situation because of the lack of teachers being employed.
Speaking on the second day of the union’s annual conference in Cork, Drogheda branch secretary Kevin Brogan warned that insurance firms could decide to pull out of covering schools over the issue.
Mr Brogan said official Department of Education guidelines note that a ceiling level of 30 pupils per class should be in place for normal lessons in new schools, with a 24 pupil ceiling for practical subjects like metalwork and woodwork.
However, the union member said schools are repeatedly being left with no option than to exceed these targets because facilities are understaffed.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
‘Thousands’ worry about future employment [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 28 April 2011
A GROWING number of teachers fear being unemployed within months, are struggling to pay off big mortgages and face the possibility of nursing homes in old age because of Government cutbacks.
Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) general secretary Pat King’s address to 500 delegates at the group’s annual convention has warned of a tidal wave of financial crises for those tasked with educating Ireland’s next generation.
Speaking on the second day of the three-day meeting, he said "thousands" of members are potentially facing unemployment, deepening debt and miserly pensions.
"The ASTI has more than 2,500 members in temporary and part-time jobs who are looking for secure work, teachers who don’t know where or if they will be working next summer.
"Thousands more bought their homes at the height of the property boom and worry about paying their mortgage next month. Some are already in arrears," he said.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Union leader frets over disconnect with membership [IrishTimes]
- Published: 28 April 2011
AN INCREASING disconnect is emerging between the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland and thousands of second-level teachers in staffrooms countrywide, the union’s general secretary Pat King acknowledged yesterday.
His admission – made during a keynote address to the union conference – comes after only 38 per cent of the union’s 18,000 members voted in the February ballot on the Croke Park agreement.
Mr King said attendance at branch meetings had fallen away dramatically. Typically, a Dublin branch with over 800 members would struggle to muster a quorum, he said.
He told delegates: “The problem of falling branch attendances has been with us for many years. It is not a new problem but in recent times it has become critical. Some branches are barely functioning; some find it impossible to appoint branch officers; some are required to duplicate branch officerships. We have to be honest and truthful about this.”
Mr King said he sensed the problem was no longer just that of members staying away from meetings.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Cost of hiring teachers highlighted [IrishTimes]
- Published: 28 April 2011
Retired teachers hired to do part time work in schools are costing the taxpayer up to €1,000 per week, the ASTI conference was told today.
Bernard Moynihan, industrial relations officer, said this was the estimated additional cost of taking on a retired teacher - compared to that involved in hiring a new entrant to the profession.
There has been growing controversy about the decision by many school principals to rely on retired teachers to fill part-time vacancies despite the jobs crisis among newly qualified teachers and the huge availability of part time teachers. Over 25 per cent of all ASTI members are part-time or temporary teachers.
Over 1,000 retired teachers worked in primary and second level schools last year, according to the most recent estimates. Mr Moynihan said it was very difficult to understand how school management cannot secure substitute teachers from the large pool available.
He also warned the Government the union was ready to take legal action under the Unfair Dismissals Act if any attempt was made to replace teachers who are on their second, third or fourth non-permanent contract. In their first contract year, teachers do not enjoy the protection of the Act.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
