IPPN

Published: 02 June 2011

Press Release

Where Are All The Unemployed Teachers?

There has been much focus in recent days on the fact that almost half of all Primary Schools in the state have used an unqualified substitute teacher at some stage in the first half of the school year.  Figures released by the Department of Education and Skills also indicate that 1,200 retired teachers have been used by schools in the same period.

However, strong evidence is emerging that Principals of Primary schools are finding it extremely difficult, if not impossible to find fully qualified substitute teachers at short notice, even during a time of high unemployment.

The Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) report that its free web based facility for sourcing substitute teachers ‘TextaSub’, is unearthing evidence that Principals have little option but to employ retired personnel because few, if any, qualified teachers respond when they receive a text that a position is available in a school.

The President of IPPN, Mr Pat Goff stated ‘Over 750 qualified teachers nationwide are currently registered with TextaSub as available to take up work at short notice. These teachers are notified of vacancies by TextaSub and the onus is then on the teacher to contact the Principal of the school that has a vacancy. However, only this week, when 146 teachers in the immediate Dublin area were alerted that a position was available in a large Dublin school, the Principal did not receive one single call from an available teacher’.

Mr Goff asks the question, ‘Have young unemployed teachers lost the will to look for a job other than the elusive long-term position, or have many reluctantly become another statistic on our ever lengthening dole queues. This is a very worrying, and real dilemma for Principals; every text sent, goes only to those teachers who register themselves as currently available’.

Mr Goff also raised concerns about the recent directive from the Department of Education and Skills which requested every Principal to keep a log of all phone calls made to secure fully qualified personnel for future scrutiny. He added that, ‘as far as Principals are concerned, TextaSub is the service to use for finding teachers. Because it reaches , not just teachers who are registered with the Teaching Council , but only those who are qualified to teach in a primary school.

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Published: 01 June 2011

Thousands of parents will be able to benefit in the coming months from a scheme to provide assistance with equipping their children for the start of the school year in September.

Around 160,000 families will be eligible for the Back to School Footwear and Clothing Allowance, which can provide €200 for such items for pupils aged between two and 11, or €305 for those between 12 and 22 who are in full-time education.

Joan Burton, Minister for Social Protection, stated: "This level of support ... shows the government's commitment to assisting families who are under pressure financially - in particular recognising that the start of a school year can be a very pressurised time on household budgets."

Unlike in previous years when the scheme has run, the majority of Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance entitlements will be fully automated, with most families eligible for payments receiving a letter from the Department of Social Protection informing them of their grant in mid-June without the need to make an application.

Full Story: www.schooldays.ie

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Published: 01 June 2011

Statement from the Department of Education & Skills on the allocation of Resource Teacher Allocations - More resource teachers will be available for the new academic year

The Department of Education and Skills (DES) has issued a circular today on the allocation of resource teachers across the primary and secondary school system.

The number of resource teachers which will be allocated for the new academic year 2011/12 will be 9,950. This is an increase of 350 posts on the number of resource teachers allocated in 2010. There have been no cuts to resource teacher numbers.

It has been decided to allocate 90% of the school's identified resource teacher needs in the first instance, in order to meet the majority of the schools demands, but also to ensure two things:
DES remains within the Employment Control Framework
to cover late or emergency applications and any redeployment gaps that may arise

Schools who may have missed the deadline for application to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) of May 13th now have until the 16th of September to apply for resource teachers.

The NCSE will then consider their applications. If the demand through late or emergency applications is less than 10% of posts, as is expected, then the Department will revisit the initial allocation and increase the numbers.

Full Story: www.education.ie

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Published: 01 June 2011

UP TO 327,000 children are either obese or overweight and experts have warned Ireland is heading for a US-style epidemic where 33% of children have weight problems.

According to Dr Donal O’Shea, a consultant endocrinologist and the director of the weight management Clinic at St Columcille’s Hospital, 20% of Irish children are obese or overweight.
Dr O’Shea said the figure will be much higher if the Government does not act.

The head of the Sports Council, John Treacy, has called for a dedicated cross-departmental government group to try and tackle the issue.

The former Olympic athlete, who chaired the National Taskforce on Obesity in 2006, said that while it might prove difficult, the Government could put pressure on the food and drinks industry to package food for young people differently and to reduce portion sizes.

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