Department says 254 teaching jobs to go [Irish Times]
- Published: 25 February 2009
Source: Irish Times
By: SEÁN FLYNN, Education Editor
THE DEPARTMENT of Education has said that 254 teaching posts will be lost as a consequence of the increase in class size triggered by changes in the budget.
However, teachers' union the INTO continues to insist that over 1,000 posts will go.
In an unusual move, the department yesterday published a provisional list of schools that are set to lose posts from September.
This confirms, it said, that the scale of job losses would be relatively small.
But the INTO said the department's list took no account of the 500 English language support jobs which were being axed, the 128 special classes which are set to close and the loss of almost 60 social inclusion posts such as home school co-ordinators.
The INTO's general secretary, John Carr, said the information released into the public domain by Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe confirmed the union's view than up to 1,000 posts would be lost in primary schools.
More than 100 teaching posts will be lost in Dublin city and country according to the department's list.
These include four posts in the Muslim School, Cabra, and three in Scoil Thomais, Castleknock.
The department says two posts will be lost in a range of Dublin schools, including Lucan Boys; Scoil Mhuire, Lucan; Holy Child Girls, Whitehall; Scoil Fhiachra, Beaumont; John Paul II, Malahide; Talbot Senior, Clondalkin; and St Colmcille, Knocklyon.
Four posts will also be lost at Edenderry Convent, Co Offaly.
Three posts will go at Scoil Naomh Bríd in Ballinlough, Cork; Ratoath Junior, Co Meath; and at Tirellan Heights, Galway.
Mr Carr said that while many teachers would be redeployed to other schools, the main impact would be widespread unemployment for graduate teachers who simply will not find jobs.
The budget changes included the increase in class sizes from 27 to 28 which cuts teacher numbers; the loss of teaching posts from schools no longer designated as disadvantaged; and a new ceiling of a maximum of two language support teachers for most schools.
At the time, Mr O'Keeffe insisted only 200 posts would go in the State's 3,300 national schools.
Last night, a spokesman for the Minister stood over the figure of about 200 net job losses in primary and second-level sectors.
The projected losses are based on the pupil enrolment returns from schools and the operation of the staffing schedule published earlier this month.
The staffing position for schools can change if they have a significant increase in enrolment for September 2009.
The department estimates include provision for the allocation of up to 350 posts in response to increased enrolment.
Schools may, under certain criteria, appeal their projected losses to the Staffing Appeals Board.
The list is on the department's website, www.education.ie, listed under the "education personnel", "primary" and "staffing schedule" links.
Department names 364 primary schools set to lose teachers [Irish Examiner]
- Published: 25 February 2009
Source: Irish Examiner
THE 364 primary schools whose pupils will be in bigger classes from September because of the loss of classroom teachers has been revealed for the first time since the measure was announced in last October's budget.
The Department of Education still insists there will be about 200 fewer mainstream teaching jobs in primary schools as a result of the budget decision to sanction one teacher for every 28 children, up from the current allocation of one for each 27 primary pupils.
But the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) said the cut will be nearer to 1,000 when other teaching losses are implemented, and dozens more schools will be prevented from making appointments they should have been entitled to because of rising enrolments.
The projections-based pupil numbers sent to the department by all 3,300 primary schools show that 382 teaching posts will be lost at 364 schools, while 124 schools will gain 128 posts due to a significant rise in pupils.
Every county except Leitrim, Longford and Waterford will suffer a net loss of teaching posts as a result of the changes. The biggest losses are in Dublin, where 102 posts are being lost and only nine gained, with Cork losing 42 posts and gaining 17. The North Dublin Muslim National School and Edenderry Convent NS in Offaly are worst affected with the loss of four teachers each.
Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe's spokesperson said that while the difference between the losses and gains stands at 254 out of 31,000 primary teachers, that is expected to fall to about 200 after other processes are finalised. These include an appeals procedure for dissatisfied schools, the allocation of extra staff to schools with growing numbers categorised as developing schools, and a redeployment scheme under which teachers can be moved to another school in the same region if their post is lost.
INTO general secretary John Carr said that, with the number of primary pupils set to increase by more than 10,000 in September, the cutbacks will result in serious overcrowding in classes. About 500 English language support teachers will be lost to about 300 primary and second-level schools because of a limit of two such staff per school from September.
"While many teachers will be redeployed to other schools, the main impact of the cuts will be widespread unemployment for graduate teachers who simply will not find jobs," he said.
Noticeboard [Irish Times]
- Published: 24 February 2009
Source: Irish Times
Schoolmag Competition Closing Date
The final day for receipt of entries for The Irish Times School Mag competition is Friday, February 27th. Send all entries with a covering note giving your contact details, to School Mag Competition, The Irish Times, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2 or e-mail: schoolmag@irishtimes.com
Archaeology Lecture at UCD
Prof Gabriel Cooney (UCD School of Archaeology) will present a lecture entitled "Death and the Ancestors in Irish Prehistory" tomorrow in the Newman Building, Lecture Theatre P, UCD at 5.30 pm. The lecture is part of the public lecture series "Death, Burial and the Afterlife". All are welcome.
Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (European Certificate in Irish)
Are you learning Irish or do you already speak Irish? Would you like to have a certificate to prove your ability in Irish? Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge is an examination system for adult learners of Irish that is linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (Council of Europe, 2001) run by the Language Centre at NUI Maynooth. Examinations are currently available at five levels from absolute beginners (A1) to advanced 1 (C1) and take place during April and May 2009 at NUI Maynooth and in other centres around the country. For further information, see www.teg.ie or call Aisling Ní Bheacháin at 01 7086417.
Seminars ; Your School and the Law
The Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) presents the last two of a series of regional seminars entitled "Your School and The Law". There is availability in Sligo and Dublin as follows: Saturday, March 21st at Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo and Saturday, March 28th in Dublin at the Green Isle Hotel.
These seminars will be of interest to all those involved in primary and second-level education, including teachers, principals, BoM members and parents. For further information and to register contact IPPN on 1890 21 22 23, see www.ippn.ie or e-mail: support@ippn.ie.
Education Lectures at WIT
The School of Education in Waterford IT is holding a set of public lectures on current debates in education. Tonight's lecture ; Some fries with that degree? ; starts at 7.30pm in the main auditorium, WIT, Cork Rd Campus. The speaker is Prof Dennis Hayes author of The McDonaldization of Education. All are welcome.
Michael Smurfit School of Business Open Evening
UCD Michael Smurfit School of Business is holding an open evening at the Blackrock Campus, Carysfort Avenue tomorrow from 4pm to 7pm. For full details log on to: http://www.smurfitschool.ie/
Special Educational Needs and the Law ; Training Course
A one-day course on special educational needs and the law will be held at the Park Hotel, Mullingar, Co Westmeath on Saturday, February 28th. The speaker will be Mary Meaney, co-author of Special Educational Needs and the Law (Round Hall 2005). The course is open to primary and second-level teachers, members of boards of management, psychologists, health professionals, parents and representatives of relevant organisations. For further details tel: 087 9634832 or e-mail: schoolcoach@eircom.net.
Seamus Heaney Lecture Series, St Patricks College, Drumcondra
Globalisation and Identity: Reflections from the Irish Experience is the title of a lecture by Prof Richard Kearney, holder of the Charles B. Seelig Chair of Philosophy at Boston College on Monday, March 2nd at 8pm. The lecture is free of charge and open to all.
O'Keeffe urged to protect funds for schools [Irish Examiner]
- Published: 24 February 2009
Source: Irish Examiner
By Niall Murray
THE need to protect funding for schools was pressed on Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe when he opened an extension at a Cork school yesterday.
The pupils, staff and parents of Gaelscoil Thomáis Dáibhís in Mallow expressed their delight with the five-room extension, which was mostly funded by a devolved grant of €300,000 from the Department of Education. They now have two extra classrooms, a resource teaching room, computer room and library for the school's 238 pupils.
The children of the north Cork school entertained the minister and other guests with poetry, music and prayers at yesterday's official opening ceremony.
Principal Dónal Ó Murchú said the entire school community was honoured that Mr O'Keeffe was the first education minister to visit, since its foundation in 1985. The school started life in prefabs at the parish centre, then occupied another premises before moving to its existing building in 2000.
"Minister, it's terrific having you here today. We're all disappointed with the education cuts but we hope you and the Government can solve the economic problems in this country and protect the education system, so we can give the boys and girls here every chance to get the best results from their education," Mr Ó Murchú said.
He joked as the microphone stand was raised after a pupil performance and before Mr O'Keeffe addressed the opening, that while there might be others present who might want to bring the minister to his knees, he was not going to do it.
"I'm still standing," Mr O'Keeffe quipped as he stood up to speak. He commended the school community's efforts on their building project and for their proud record in sports and other achievements.
Carmel O'Callaghan, chairwoman of the parents' association that helped raise the €60,000 extra needed to provide the computer room and library, suggested the minister make decisions on where education savings should be made by talking to the grassroots and not just the "grey suits".
"Sometimes it's not possible to really get what's happening on the ground unless you speak to the people in the classroom," she said.
The school board chairperson Máire Uí Bhriain said Gaelscoil Thomáis Dáibhís could teach Mr O'Keeffe plenty about value for money, having built five rooms with the money it received for just three, combined with the money raised locally.
State pursues abuse victim for legal costs [Irish Times]
- Published: 24 February 2009
Source: Irish Times
State pursues abuse victim for legal costs
THE SUPREME Court has heard the State is seeking legal costs of some €75,000 following an unsuccessful test action brought against it by a woman who was sexually assaulted by a national school principal when she was a pupil.
Louise O'Keeffe had argued the State bore vicarious liability for the actions of the principal, but that argument was rejected by the Supreme Court last December. Some 200 other cases were awaiting the outcome of the action.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court reserved judgment on the issue of who should pay the costs of the action. The State sought its costs against Ms O'Keeffe while her lawyers argued the case was brought in the public interest and she should not have to pay costs.
Ms O'Keeffe (43), of Thoam, Dunmanway, Co Cork, had sued the Minister for Education and the State arising from some 20 sexual assaults by school principal Leo Hickey on her at Dunderrow National School, Co Cork, in 1973.
Hickey was jailed for three years in 1998 after pleading guilty to 21 sample charges of indecent assaults on 21 girls.
Yesterday, Fechin McDonagh SC, for the State, said his client was seeking its costs, but the matter of enforcement of any costs order would be treated "with great sensitivity".
The State had warned Ms O'Keeffe in correspondence in 1998 that her action was doomed from the outset, he said.
Frank Callanan SC, for Ms O'Keeffe, argued her action had established a point of law in the public interest and she was entitled to costs of both the High Court and the Supreme Court hearings.
The five-judge Supreme Court, comprising of the Chief Justice Mr John Murray, Ms Justice Susan Denham, Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan and Mr Justice Nial Fennelly, reserved its decision.
The court had heard Ms O'Keeffe was sexually assaulted by Hickey when she was just eight- years-old and that several parents withdrew girls from the Dunderrow school in protest at Hickey's actions in 1973.
Hickey ultimately resigned in January 1974 and was employed the following month at a boys school in Ballincollig, Cork. He continued to teach until his recognition as a teacher was withdrawn after criminal proceedings in the late 1990s.
Ms O'Keeffe had secured €53,000 damages from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal but was unhappy with the award. Her High Court action against Hickey and the State was heard by Mr Justice Eamon de Valera in 2004 with judgment delivered in 2006. Damages against Hickey were assessed at €300,000, but the judge rejected her claim against the State and awarded costs against her.
Last December, the Supreme Court dismissed her appeal against that decision.
The court ruled the State defendants had no vicarious liability for the actions of Hickey because there was no employer/employee relationship, formal or substantive, between them.
