Statement by Jim Higgins, President, INTO [into.ie]
- Published: 25 April 2011
Monday, 25 April 2011
Statement by Jim Higgins, President, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, on IMF/EU Deal
INTO Annual Congress 2011
INTO: Ireland’s deal with the IMF/EU will cripple primary schools.
The INTO has said primary education will feel the impact of the EU/IMF deal more than any other area of the public service.
The union’s President, Jim Higgins, has told its Annual Congress in Sligo that with enrolments increasing by more than 10,000 every year schools cannot cope with fewer teachers.
Mr Higgins said primary education faces the greatest challenge from reduced government spending.
“Over the coming years the pupil population will increase by more than ten percent in the next five years,” he said. “The employment control frame work agreed under the EU/IMF deal takes no account of this.”
Full Story: www.into.ie
INTO Annual Congress 2011 [into.ie]
- Published: 25 April 2011
Monday, 25 April 2011
The annual congress of the primary teachers' union, the INTO begins today in Sligo. This afternoon over 750 delegates from all parts of the country will gather at the event which will be addressed by the Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn and the union’s general secretary Sheila Nunan.
Among the issues on the conference agenda are the salaries, pensions and job prospects of new teachers. The INTO says that up to 2,000 teachers will be without regular work at primary level next year.
The Croke Park Agreement will also be discussed as will cutbacks in resources for special needs pupils and disadvantaged children.
Full Story: www.into.ie
Address by Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, at the INTO Congress [merrionstreet.ie]
- Published: 25 April 2011
I want to start by thanking you for your invitation to join you at your annual congress today and for your warm welcome.
I’m delighted to be here.
I consider myself to have been given the job I wanted in what is, in effect, a National Government.
I am anxious to ensure that all of the education partners are in no doubt of the very difficult road that lies ahead.
In my opening remarks therefore I will set out the challenges we face as a country and what that means for the education sector.
My party respects the role of the trade union movement in this country.
I understand how an annual conference must discuss and debate the issues that matter to you, whether those are issues that concern you as individuals or issues that come from your concern for the primary school system generally.
In your classrooms you strive to teach children the truth.
I want to be equally frank about the resources that are likely to be available for education in the coming period.
Full Story: www.merrionstreet.ie
One-off chance to truly represent interests of ALL citizens [educationmatters.ie]
- Published: 23 April 2011
A Eagathóir, a chara,
The forum on patronage, and possible transfer of patronage, presents a unique and once-off opportunity for the government and presently constituted patronage bodies to get it right and truly represent all of our citizens in having children educated within the ethos and system which best democratically and respectfully reflects their beliefs and values.
Transferring patronage from one body (e.g. Catholic to Educate Together) will not necessarily do this and groups of citizens will not have their children's educational needs met.
The Government should explore other options such as setting up schools under the patronage of bodies such as the VECs which truly represent all of our citizens.
Full Story: www.educationmatters.ie
Decision to change schools into Catholic institutions was flawed [IrishTimes]
- Published: 23 April 2011
A return to some form of pre-1971 non-religious education may be needed in rural areas, writes GARRET FITZGERALD
THE FIRST meeting between Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn and religious interests about a diversification of an almost totally religious primary education system took place this week.
A good indication of the likely growth of the demand for non-religious education is provided by the rapidly rising proportion of couples who now choose civil as distinct from religious weddings.
Data on this subject is currently in arrears, but figures for 2007 show that in the preceding 11 years the proportion of civil unions rose from 6 per cent to 23 per cent. In our cities between 36 and 40 per cent of marriages in 2007 were civil ceremonies.
Particularly in urban areas, where a number of primary schools exist quite close to each other, a transfer of patronage to neighbouring schools could resolve local problems arising from the absence of primary schools acceptable to parents who do not wish their children to attend a religious school.
However transfers of patronage cannot resolve the problem that exists in many rural areas or small towns where the population is insufficient to support more than one school. This issue is one of those listed to be considered by Quinn’s forum.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
