Ailish O'Hora: Rolls Royce retirements for teacher-TDs have to go [Independent.ie]
- Published: 23 March 2010
IT is hardly the best example to set in the classroom at a time when more than 400,000 people are on the dole, including an estimated 1,500 out-of-work teachers.
Of 1,000 second-level teachers who graduated last year, just 50 have secured full-time positions. Many more have had to emigrate or take up part-time roles.
At a time when job security is seen as a bonus, having a job held open for you can only be described as a luxury -- and the refusal to budge of the eight teacher-TDs is just part of the overall picture.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Pupils deserve the best teachers [Independent.ie]
- Published: 23 March 2010
Open letter to Batt O'Keeffe:
A substitute supply panel has served the primary schools of Finglas for the past 17 years. An invaluable resource to our schools, it means qualified, vetted teachers are available to cover short-term absences, thus ensuring that the education of many of the most disadvantaged children in our community continues largely uninterrupted.
Your decision to abolish this service next September will make it very hard to provide substitute cover.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Hanafin to cling to her '€400,000' pension pot [Independent.ie]
- Published: 23 March 2010
SOCIAL and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin is refusing to give up her old school job as she amasses a teaching pension which would cost her nearly €400,000 if she were a private sector worker today.
Her teaching pension is in addition to the Rolls Royce retirement nest eggs she enjoys as a TD and minister.
Ms Hanafin is heading up the Government's overhaul of the pension system, which will result in thousands of people having to work until they are 68.
She is among eight teacher-turned-TDs who are amassing a combined €3.2m pension pot by refusing to quit their teaching posts.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Catholic order still wants to run new schools [Independent.ie]
- Published: 23 March 2010
THE Catholic Church has staked a claim on running new post-primary schools in developing areas.
The Loreto order of nuns has made a general application to be considered as a patron body for new schools.
It sets down a marker that the Catholic Church wants to continue to open schools at second-level, including in growing communities that have a broad cultural mix.
The Loreto application was confirmed by the Department of Education as it announced a major rethink on the issue of second-level patronage.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Step in the right direction for Educate Together [waterford-news.com]
- Published: 23 March 2010
THERE is good news for Waterford Educate Together pupils and staff with news that a patronage barrier has been removed, allowing them to inch closer to providing a second level school locally.
The project committee for Waterford’s second-level Educate Together school is delighted that the final legal impediment to opening this school has been removed and they can progress their plans for a new school.
Full Story: www.waterford-news.com
