New rules on school cover free up €25m [Irish Examiner]
- Published: 20 November 2009
THE Department of Education has clawed back €25 million in taxpayers’ money after tightening up rules on substitution cover for teachers.
The head of the department yesterday said claims for uncertified sick leave had “gone down quite significantly”.
Claims had fallen by 28% in primary schools and 38% in post-primary schools in the last school year.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
Lecturer who secretly double-jobbed will get two pensions [Irish Examiner]
- Published: 20 November 2009
A LECTURER who secretly double-jobbed by working in two colleges at the same time is likely to receive two pensions, it has emerged.
The head of one of the colleges yesterday defended its handling of the debacle, saying the academic may have breached his contract but he had in fact carried out his duties.
Engineering lecturer Fergal O’Malley managed to work at the Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) while holding down another lecturing position in NUI Galway. He double-jobbed for eight years until both colleges found out in late 2007 and forced him to resign.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
Inquiry into child abuse to cost over €130m [Irish Examiner]
- Published: 20 November 2009
THE head of the Department of Education has admitted the cost of the 10-year long Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was widely underestimated and is now set to cost taxpayers over €130 million, more than 60 times the estimated bill.
The inquiry is now expected to finish its work by the end of 2010.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
Concern over mixed-ability secondary classes [Independent.ie]
- Published: 20 November 2009
THE Department of Education has questioned how primary patron Educate Together's policy of not segregating pupils of different abilities would be applied in second-level schools.
Educate Together is the fastest-growing school patron in the country. It runs 56 primary schools, and has been pressing for recognition to open post-primary schools as well.
Senior department officials are currently considering whether to approve the multi-denominational body as a post-primary patron. But they are concerned about the impact non-segregation might have on the quality of education.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Big fall in teacher sick leave saves State €25m [Independent.ie]
- Published: 20 November 2009
The number of uncertified sick days taken by teachers has dropped by as much as 38pc since changes were introduced to the substitution scheme.
It has led to savings of around €25m for the Department of Education which, since last January, has restricted the funding available to schools for replacing teachers who are absent.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
