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NCSE Policy on Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
The NCSE has launched their policy advice paper on the care of deaf and hard of hearing children in Ireland.
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VHI Teachers' Group Scheme
The VHI increase announced today will not affect members renewing in the Teachers' Group Scheme on 8th February 2012.
The price increase announced today will affect renewals and new members joining after 1st March 2012.
The price increase on Teachers' Plan will not take effect until 9th March so anyone renewing on 8th February 2012 will not be affected by this increase this year. This increase will of course affect everyone in the scheme next year!
Date: Friday, 3 February 12 -
Primary Supervision Opt Out Forms 2011/2012
Please note that the Primary supervision opt out form in respect of the 2011/2012 school year has been placed on the Department's website, the form can be accessed as follows: Education Personnel -> Primary -> Supervision with the heading 'Form to be completed by Schools regarding Teachers who have opted out of Supervision Duties'.
Please note that the INTO strongly advises members to avail of the opportunity for additional remuneration through undertaking supervision duties.
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Budget Cutbacks
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Press Statement Sheila Nunan, General Secretary INTO, on Budget Cutbacks
The INTO described last night's announcement that budget cuts to disadvantaged schools were to be reviewed as "a very significant development".
The primary teachers’ union said this was due to protests and lobbying of public representatives by the INTO and school communities.
The INTO has described indications that budget cuts to disadvantaged schools are to be reversed as a step in the right direction. Last night in a Dail debate on the issue, the Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn said he had asked his department for a report on the matter within four weeks. The Minister also indicated that disadvantaged schools would retain their favourable staffing for learning support teaching, a key demand of the union.
The General Secretary of the INTO Sheila Nunan said the proposed budget cutbacks to disadvantaged schools had shocked ordinary people. She said INTO representatives had been in on-going contact with political representatives and Department officials since the budget in December about the potential impact of decisions for primary schools, particularly smaller schools, disadvantaged schools and schools in the gaeltacht.
Ms Nunan said the Minister in his speech had recognized the significant progress made in disadvantaged schools in key areas of literacy and numeracy. She said the proposed cuts would put this progress at risk and damage other developments underway in areas such as speech and language skills, social skills and pastoral care.
“Teachers are frontline when it comes to services to disadvantaged children. Every day they deal with its consequences such as poverty, hunger, alienation, marginalisation and anti-social behavior. The plan to review the decision is a step forward,” said Ms Nunan.
INTO representatives also attended the debate in Leinster House last night which was dominated by budget cuts to disadvantaged schools, small schools and gaeltacht schools. Ms Nunan said the union will engage with the Department on all of these issues.
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Education (Amendment) Bill 2012 Published
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, today published the Education (Amendment) Bill which provides for a number of important changes to the Education Act 1998 and the Teaching Council Act 2001.
The amendment paves the way for commencement of Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001 which will ensure that only those registered with the Teaching Council have a right to access paid employment as teachers in schools.
The Bill provides for the amendment of the Education Act 1998 and the amendment of the Teaching Council Act 2001 in relation to a number of education matters. These include arrangements for the employment, in certain exceptional and limited circumstances, of persons who are not registered teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001. It is the stated aim of the Minister that all teachers in schools be registered with the Teaching Council and therefore fully qualified.
The Bill also provides for changes to Sections 23 and 24 of the Education Act. These changes are designed to provide legal certainty on the capacity of the Minister for Education and Skills and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to ensure that teachers who are surplus are redeployed to vacancies in other schools, while at the same time ensuring that the Department can continue to fully honour the commitment in the Croke Park Agreement which provides for flexible redeployment arrangements instead of redundancy.
The Education (Amendment) Bill 2011 is available to download on the Oireachtas website at www.oireachtas.ie
Date: Tuesday, 10 January 12
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New Maternity Leave Podcast
The INTO is producing a series of information podcasts based on frequently asked questions from members to the query line. The first of these relates to maternity leave.
Date: Monday, 19 December 11 -
Urgent Notice for PRSI Refund: Deadline 31/12/11
2007 Health Levy Refunds (and subsequent years)
Health Levy Refunds may be owed to a number of teachers for the years 2007/2008/2009/2010. Any teacher who believes they satisfy the 2 necessary criteria of;
(a) P60 earnings of under €26,000 in any of those calendar years and
(b) earning over €500 for some weeks in that year, may well have a refund due to them.It is possible, that many Career Break returnees, many Substitute Teachers, some Temporary Teachers, Jobsharers and New Entrants in the years 2007/8/9/10 are eligible for this refund. Application, by letter, asking for review of PRSI/Health Levy for the years 2007-10 should be made to PRSI Refunds, Dept. Of Social Protection, Oisin House, 212-213 Pearse St. Dublin2. enclosing your PPS number. Final deadline for 2007 refunds is 31/12/2011 due to the 4 year “cut off” rule. Subsequent years are not yet at a deadline.
Other 2007 Tax/PRSI/Health Levy Refunds
31/12/2011 is also the refund claim deadline for all other 2007 Tax/PRSI/Health Levy Refunds.
These could include the Tax/PRSI/Health Levy refunds which may be owed to teachers who paid ‘Class A’ PRSI and were on Maternity Leave in 2007. Refunds of Tax/PRSI/Health Levy may also be due to teachers who paid ‘Class A’ PRSI and who availed of Sick Leave in any of those years. Health Levy Refunds may be owed to Widows and Widowers who were in receipt of the State survivors' pension in 2007 and who were exempt from Health Levy. Teachers are advised to contact your local Tax Office and PRSI Refunds, Dept. Of Social Protection, Oisín House, 212/3 Pearse St. Dublin 2 For further information.
NOTE: Please do not contact INTO Head Office as criteria for entitlement can only be determined by Dept. of Social Protection and/or Revenue Commissioners.
Date: Friday, 16 December 11 -
Some alleviation for DEIS schools
INTO has met Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, re the impact of the Budget on disadvantaged schools, small schools and special education provision.
DEIS band 1 junior schools will be placed on a staffing schedule based on an average of 1 teacher for 20 pupils, with DEIS Band 1 senior schools remaining on a schedule of 24 to 1. A total of 32 schools that have posts that provided for 1 teacher for every 15 pupils in junior classes only will now have a staffing schedule that operates on the basis of an average of 1 teacher for 18 junior pupils as opposed to the 22:1 announced last week.
The special position of DEIS schools will also be recognised in adjustments to the General Allocation Model which is used to allocate learning and language support teaching posts to schools.
The INTO is continuing to engage with the DES about a range of issues arising from the Budget. The INTO has already met with DES officials about Budget 2012 and will have a further meeting with DES representatives tomorrow in relation to the education elements in the Budget. The INTO is also collating information on the impact on schools from the online surveys on the INTO website.
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Budget 2012 Survey - Academic Allowances
Pending completion of the public service wide review of allowances and given the upward pressure on the cost of teacher allowances, the Government has decided to make changes, with immediate effect, to the rules governing payment of qualification allowances to teachers.
Teachers will hold their existing allowances, but will not receive additional allowances for further qualifications. New teachers will be eligible for allowances up to honours degree level only.The INTO has put together a survey: What Budget 2012 said about academic allowances.
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Modern Languages Initiative
The Department of Education and Skills have confirmed that the Modern Languages Initiative will continue for the remainder of the school year 2011/2012.
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Budget 2012 Survey - Modern Languages Programme
Will your school lose access to the Modern Languages Programme?
The DES announced that the Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative, which has operated since 1998, will be abolished at the end of the 2011/2012 school year. This is a long-running scheme involving approximately 500 schools.
If you are affected by this decision please fill in the INTO survey.
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Budget 2012 Survey - Small Schools
Please read before answering the survey: What Budget 2012 means for Schools of 1 – 4 teachers.
Starting in 2012, phased cutbacks will be made to the staffing schedules for 1, 2, 3 and 4 teacher primary schools (schools with less than 86 pupils).
These adjustments will increase the minimum number of pupils required for allocation of teaching posts.
Principal +
2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15
1 12 14 17 20
2 49 51 54 56
3 81 83 85 86The Department has claimed this cutback will mean the loss of 100 teaching posts in 2012 and the loss of a total of 250 posts over three years.
Other StaffingThere will be a revised General Allocation Model for learning support, language support and high incidence special needs.
Each mixed or all-boys schools will get an allocation of 5 hours per week (0.2 of a post) for each mainstream classroom teaching post.
Each all-girls school will get an allocation of 4 hours per week or 0.16 of a post for every mainstream classroom teaching post (rounded to the nearest 0.2 of a post to facilitate into full-time posts).
Low Incidence provision is to be reorganised and existing posts will be used to put in place a network of about 2,450 full-time resource posts in over 1,600 base schools throughout the country that will be allocated on a permanent basis. The teachers in these full-time permanent posts will undertake NCSE approved resource hours in the base schools or in neighbouring schools.
The local SENO will have an oversight role in relation to the sharing arrangements between schools so that they can operate as efficiently as possible and time loss due to travel between schools can be kept to a minimum.
Schools that are unable to have their NCSE approved resource hours met from this network of full-time resource posts will be allocated mainly part-time temporary posts.
Any re-clustering of GAM and language support hours into full-time posts will be operated at schools level with schools having greater autonomy rather than the previous Department led approach. However, because of the later timeline for the allocation of resource hours by the NCSE, schools will not be permitted to combine GAM and NCSE approved resource hours together into full-time posts.
The 1,600 base schools for the 2,450 full-time resource posts (the list of these schools will be published in early January as part of the Department circular on the new arrangements) will be selected on the basis of the number of NCSE resource hours approved for each school for the current 2011/12 school year using the following criteria:
NCSE approved allocation in 2011/12
school year as at 31 December 2011Proposed number of permanent resource
posts to be hosted in base school (25 hours capacity in each post)
Less than 15 hours per week 0 posts 15 to 38 hours per week 1 post Over 38 hours and up to 70 hours per week 2 posts Over 70 hours and up to 95 hours per week 3 posts Over 95 hours and up to 120 hours per week 4 posts Over 120 hours and up to 145 hours per week 5 posts 1 additional post for each extra 25 hours thereafter. The list of base schools for the resource posts will be reviewed regularly to ensure that it reflects the needs of newly established and rapidly developing schools.
A permanent allocation of over 350 EAL posts will be allocated to schools with high concentrations of pupils that require language support using the following criteria:- Schools that currently have 2 temporary language support posts will be allocated 1 permanent post.
- Schools that currently have 3 temporary language support posts will be allocated 2 permanent posts.
- Schools that currently have 4 temporary language support posts will be allocated 3 permanent posts.
- Schools that currently have 5 or 6 temporary language support posts will be allocated 4 permanent posts.
The continued requirement for the above additional permanent posts will be reviewed on a regular basis by the Department having regard to enrolment trends and the number of pupils requiring language support.
DEIS Staffing
A new staffing schedule for all 199 DEIS Band 1 schools will be based on a general average of 1 teacher for every 22 pupils.
This will replace the existing approach of giving a “top up” allocation on the existing standard staffing schedule to enable DEIS Band 1 schools to implement reduced class sizes of 20:1 in junior classes and 24:1 in senior classes.
The creation of two dedicated DEIS staffing schedules at primary and second level will be accompanied by a phased withdrawal of 428 legacy posts.
These posts were allocated to some schools under previous disadvantage programmes prior to the DEIS initiative of 2005. To help those schools considered to be particularly adversely affected by this decision the posts will be gradually withdrawn over a three year period starting in 2012/13 school year.
The new DEIS Band 1 staffing schedule will apply from September 2012 (i.e. based on 30 September 2011 figures). The INTO is engaging with the DES regarding these measures.
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Budget 2012 Survey - Staffing in Disadvantaged Schools
Please read before answering the survey: What Budget 2012 means for Disadvantaged Schools.
The DES has announced a new staffing schedule for all 199 DEIS Band 1 schools which will be based on a general average of 1 teacher for every 22 pupils. This will replace the existing approach of giving a “top up” allocation on the existing standard staffing schedule to enable DEIS Band 1 schools to implement reduced class sizes of 20:1 in junior classes and 24:1 in senior classes.
The DES also announced that the creation of a DEIS staffing schedule will be accompanied by a cut of what it calls 428 “legacy posts”. These posts were allocated to some schools under previous disadvantage programmes prior to the DEIS initiative of 2005. However the DES has said that in schools considered to be particularly adversely affected by this decision the posts will be gradually withdrawn over a three year period starting in 2012/13 school year.
The new DEIS Band 1 staffing schedule will apply from September 2012 (i.e. based on 30 September 2011 figures).
Non-classroom teaching
There will be a revised General Allocation Model for learning support, language support and high incidence special needs. Each mixed or all-boys schools will get an allocation of 5 hours per week (0.2 of a post) for each mainstream classroom teaching post. Each all-girls school will get an allocation of 4 hours per week or 0.16 of a post for every mainstream classroom teaching post (rounded to the nearest 0.2 of a post to facilitate into full-time posts).
Low Incidence provision is to be reorganised and existing posts will be used to put in place a network of about 2,450 full-time resource posts in over 1,600 base schools throughout the country that will be allocated on a permanent basis.The teachers in these full-time permanent posts will undertake NCSE approved resource hours in the base schools or in neighbouring schools.
The local SENO will have an oversight role in relation to the sharing arrangements between schools so that they can operate as efficiently as possible and time loss due to travel between schools can be kept to a minimum.
Schools that are unable to have their NCSE approved resource hours met from this network of full-time resource posts will be allocated mainly part-time temporary posts.
Any re-clustering of GAM and language support hours into full-time posts will be operated at schools level with schools having greater autonomy rather than the previous Department led approach. However, because of the later timeline for the allocation of resource hours by the NCSE, schools will not be permitted to combine GAM and NCSE approved resource hours together into full-time posts.
The 1,600 base schools for the 2,450 full-time resource posts (the list of these schools will be published in early January as part of the Department circular on the new arrangements) will be selected on the basis of the number of NCSE resource hours approved for each school for the current 2011/12 school year using the following criteria:NCSE approved allocation in 2011/12 school year as at 31 December 2011 hours Proposed number of permanent resource posts to be hosted in base school (25 capacity in each post) Less than 15 hours per week 0 posts 15 to 38 hours per week 1 post Over 38 hours and up to 70 hours per week 2 posts Over 70 hours and up to 95 hours per week 3 posts Over 95 hours and up to 120 hours per week posts Over 120 hours and up to 145 hours per week 5 posts 1 additional post for each extra 25 hours thereafter. The list of base schools for the resource posts will be reviewed regularly to ensure that it reflects the needs of newly established and rapidly developing schools.
A permanent allocation of over 350 EAL posts will be allocated to schools with high concentrations of pupils that require language support using the following criteria:- Schools that currently have 2 temporary language support posts will be allocated 1 permanent post.
- Schools that currently have 3 temporary language support posts will be allocated 2 permanent posts.
- Schools that currently have 4 temporary language support posts will be allocated 3 permanent posts.
- Schools that currently have 5 or 6 temporary language support posts will be allocated 4 permanent posts.
The continued requirement for the above additional permanent posts will be reviewed on a regular basis by the Department having regard to enrolment trends and the number of pupils requiring language support.
All individual responses are strictly private and confidential.
Date: Monday, 12 December 11 -
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New Staffing Schedules Published by DES
The DES has published new staffing schedules for primary schools arising from Budget 2012.
The CEC is meeting today to discuss the impact of Budget measures, including staffing changes for smaller schools and DEIS schools.
Further updates will be posted as they become available.
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CEC Discusses Budget 2012
The CEC of the INTO met today, Friday 9th December, to consider the details of Budget 2012.
District Representatives from around the country reported from their areas on the impact of the Budget on staffing in primary schools, particularly in the context of smaller primary schools and those serving the most disadvantaged communities in our country. A sense of shock and anger from members throughout the country was evident from the feedback.
Following intensive discussions, the CEC decided:- To seek an urgent meeting with the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, TD, to outline the INTO concerns at seriously flawed decisions in relation to some of the budget provisions for primary education. These include the staffing changes for small schools and DEIS schools.
- Given the urgency of the issues, the INTO has arranged meetings with the relevant officials in the Department of Education and Skills in the coming week. Items for discussion include school staffing, educational disadvantage provision and special education support.
- CEC Representatives will be meeting with INTO representatives in their Districts to elicit further information on the impact in local areas of Budget 2012 decisions; and
- The CEC also decided to initiate a number of nationwide surveys, conducted through Branches and the INTO website, to assess the impact on schools of Budget 2012. These surveys will assess the impact of the budget on smaller schools, on disadvantaged schools, the Modern Languages Initiative, School Funding and Qualification Allowances. All schools are encouraged to fill in the survey relevant to them. Members affected by the decision on allowances are requested to fill in the appropriate survey. This data is essential in order to plan appropriate responses to the measures.
The CEC will be meeting again in January to consider the results of the surveys and to plan further action in relation to the outcome of Budget 2012.
The INTO is also in discussions to clarify a number of elements including qualification allowance criteria, modern language provision and school funding. Members are also urged to contact their local TDs on the issues.
Date: Friday, 9 December 11 -
Budget 2012 - Further Updates
Taxation measures due to be announced today will be posted here as they become available.
Updates can be found on the Budget 2012 page which also contains background and related documentation.
Note on Qualifications
An implementation date for introduction of changes to qualification allowances has not been clarified and INTO is in contact with the DES about this matter.
Class sizes unchanged in the majority of primary schools
The INTO said today parents and primary teachers will be very relieved that in the majority of schools class sizes will remain unchanged. The primary teachers union said class sizes in Ireland are already the second highest in EU and in the run up to this budget were a priority for primary teachers.
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Budget 2012
Education Summary
- Phased adjustment to 1, 2, 3, 4 teacher schools.
- New schedule based on 22.1 for DEIS Band 1.
- No other changes for schedule.
- Legacy posts in DEIS to be phased out.
- Net increase in primary teachers this year.
- Qualification allowances capped at Honours degree for new entrants. No payment of Masters or PhD allowance. Also applies to existing teachers getting new qualifications.
- 2% cut in capitation grant.
- Modern Languages programme scrapped.
Key Points - Budget 2012
- Government will save €55m in rent supplement cutbacks
- There will be a spending ceiling of €54 billion in 2013 and €52 billion 2014.
- Overall government spending next year will be €55.8 billion, down from €57.7 billion this year
- Reduction in maintenance grants and increase by €250 of third-level registration fees will save €12.6 million.
- Reduction in capital grants to schools by 2 per cent
- Jobseekers benefit will be based on 5 days instead of 6 days.
- Rent supplement changes will save €55 million
- Changes to one parent payment will save €20.7 million
- €12 million saved on drug payment scheme being reduced whereby monthly threshold for drug payment scheme will rise from €120 to €132 per month.
- There will be €13.6 billion for health next year including €50m to fund implementation of the Programme for Government commitments on mental health and access to GP care
- No fall in child benefit. There will be standardised rate of payment of child benefits for all children which will save €43 million
- Fuel season reduced from 32 to 26 weeks to save
- Overhaul of public service paid sick leave
- 10 per cent reduction in public service overtime
- 5 per cent cut in public service allowances and premium payments
- Limited recruitment into public service next year
- Public service pay bill will fall by €400m next year.
- There will be a new €20m labour market activity fund which will target long term unemployment
- Government is committed to €17 billion in capital spending for the next five years.
- The number of medical cards is up 500k since 2007.
- State pension spend is up €175 million in 2012.
Download other documents below:
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Consultation on Enrolment - Last Call for Submissions
Please note that today, 14th October, is the final day for members/branches/districts who wish to respond to the INTO’s consultation document on enrolment.
All responses received will be used in the drafting of the INTO’s response to the DES consultation paper on enrolment in schools. Responses should be returned to Niamh Cooper in Head Office (ncooper@into.ie).
The INTO consultation paper summarizes the DES discussion document and poses questions for consideration by Branches, Districts, Principals’ Fora and individual members in order to inform the INTO’s submission.
Date: Friday, 14 October 11 -
Important Notice on the Filling of Permanent Posts
Please note the following which the DES posted on their website: 'Update on redeployment panels at primary level'.
Schools are reminded that, in accordance with the arrangements set out in Circular 19/2011, the latest date for filling a permanent post on a permanent basis is Monday 7 November 2011 (first working day of November for schools).
Permanent vacancies that occur:
- prior to 7 November 2011 but the appointment process is not completed by the 7 November; or
- after 7 November 2011
can only be filled on a fixed-term basis unless the appointee is a permanent or CID holding teacher from a redeployment panel. These arrangements do not apply to Principal posts which will continue to be filled in the normal manner on a permanent basis.
Therefore schools who will have permanent vacancies which arise on or before the 7th November should begin the appointment process as early as possible in order to have the process completed by the 7th November.
Date: Tuesday, 11 October 11 -
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
INTO Head Office continues to receive a large volume of queries from members contemplating retirement by 29th February 2012.
Click on the links below to download the following related documents:
- FAQs on retirement
- Pension calculator for retirements up to and including 29/2/12
- Pension calculator for retirements after 29/2/12
Regional Seminars for teachers contemplating retirement before 29th February 2012
The 2010 Budget provided that public servants who retire in 2010 would have their pension and lump sum benefits calculated on their 2009 salary rather than on the lower scales introduced on 1 January 2010. The Croke Park Agreement subsequently extended this provision to all Public servants who retired by February 29th 2012 (inclusive).
All interested members are welcome to attend these seminars.These targeted seminars will focus on the theme of 'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' They will not address wider pension issues such as AVC's, Notional Service, Social Welfare entitlements etc. These issues will be addressed at our regular Retirement Planning Seminars which will be held as normal throughout the school year. Retirement Planning Seminars are advertised in InTouch and via the Events Calendar.
Seminars are scheduled as follows:
- Thursday 13th October, The Regency Hotel, Whitehall, Dublin 9. 4.00-6.00pm (Tea and Coffee will be served from 3.30pm)
- Friday 18th November, Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone. 6.45pm
Date: Monday, 10 October 11 -
Ireland's Human Rights Record to be Examined
Today, 6th October, Minister Alan Shatter is in Geneva, being questioned on Ireland's human rights record as part of the process of the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights by the UN.
The Universal Periodic Review is a process through which the human rights records of the United Nations' 192 Member States are reviewed and assessed every four years. The UPR assesses how countries respect the commitments they made and agreements that they signed under international law and highlights any gaps in human rights protection in the country under review. The whole idea behind the UPR is that human rights protection will be improved on the ground.
Following the review, recommendations are made to the country under review on how to improve their compliance with their human rights obligations. The country under review has a duty to implement these recommendations in the four years before it comes up for review again.
The three teacher unions (INTO, ASTI and TUI) made a submission on Section 37.1 of the Employment Equality Acts (the religion exemption), which was included in the civil society submission to the process. We will be monitoring the Minister’s response in Geneva today.See www.rightsnow.ie for further details.
Ireland’s Universal Periodic Review to United Nations
Breakfast with Minister Shatter, Liberty Hall, October 6th 2011
The responses of the countries broadly complimented Ireland’s record on human rights and particularly praised the process employed to compile the report, engaging NGO’s and individual civilians. Nine topics in particular were to the forefront in the comments and recommendations, namely:- Rights of people with disabilities
- Rights of children – with reference to our upcoming referendum in 2012
- Gender equality – participation of women in public life
- Prison conditions – sanitation
- Traveller rights and calls to recognise them as an ethnic minority
- Immigration rights
- Domestic violence
- Racism
- Abortion
Following are some specific points that may be of particular interest to the INTO:
- Sri Lanka and Switzerland referred to Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act and called on Ireland to end the facility to discriminate against prospective employees on the grounds of moral ethos.
- Turkey recommended more diversity of faith in our education system.
- Norway expressed concern about an Irish airline that refuses to negotiate with trade unions.
- Hungary called on Ireland to adopt the UNESCO Convention Against Discrimination in Education.
Date: Thursday, 6 October 11
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Election of Boards of Management
As indicated in the September issue of InTouch, discussions have been taking place between the DES and the partners in education, including the INTO, in relation to a review of the current constitution of boards of management and the Rules of procedure.
These discussions have now concluded, the relevant documents are available for download below:
- Circular 0064/2011 Election of Boards of Management
- Constitution of Boards of Management and Rules of Procedure
Date: Monday, 3 October 11 -
President's Dinner 2011
District IX will host the Presidential Dinner in honour of Noreen Flynn in the Mullingar Park Hotel, Mullingar, Co Westmeath on Saturday, 8 October 2011.
Tickets at €65 are available from Kieran Kelly (intodistrict9@into.ie).
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INTO PDP Conference 2011
School Leadership - Challenges and Opportunities
The INTO Biennial Principals’ and Deputy Principals’ Conference concluded on Saturday in Thomond Park Stadium, Limerick.
The theme of the conference was School Leadership – Challenges and Opportunities.
A webcast archive will be available shortly.
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INTO Appoints New Northern Secretary
The INTO has announced the appointment of Mr Gerry Murphy as the new Northern Secretary of the union.
Mr Murphy, a primary and post-primary teacher and principal of St Mary’s Primary School in Belfast since 2002, replaces Frank Bunting who retired earlier this year. Gerry previously taught in St Aidan’s PS, Corpus Christi College and Little Flower Secondary School in Belfast and in Wembley in London. He lives in Keady, Co Armagh and is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster, Jordanstown.
He has been a trade union representative at all levels of the INTO in the north serving at branch and district level and the union’s Northern Committee. He was Chairperson of Belfast West Branch, the largest branch in the north. He is a member of the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council and was the lead person for the INTO on pensions and retirement planning to the Curran Tribunal.
Speaking after been informed of his appointment, Mr Murphy said that he was honoured to be appointed as Northern Secretary of the INTO. He indicated that it was his wish to continue to build on the success and reputation of INTO as the largest teaching union in Ireland.
He also stated that he was mindful that he was following in the footsteps of Frank Bunting and that it would be his wish to continue to serve INTO by taking forward the values that Frank had instilled into the Organisation.
Gerry Murphy has a particular interest in Traveller Education and represented the INTO on the Taskforce for Traveller Education in the north.
He is a former inter-county hurler and footballer with Armagh and a member of the Keady Regeneration Committee, a sub-committee of Armagh City Council.
Date: Monday, 3 October 11
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Trident Report on Public Service Pensions
The INTO has strongly condemned the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011 published today by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin T.D.
The INTO said the Bill will force future teachers to pay more into the pension scheme than they will get out. This will mean in effect new teachers will fund the full cost of their pensions.
Last year the 3 teacher unions commissioned the Trident Report on Public Service Pensions, which was launched in November 2010.
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DES Issues Child Protection Procedures
The DES has issued Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools and Circular 0065/2011 in relation to the procedures.
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Key Education Issues in Election 2011
Date: Friday, 30
September 11
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Education Proposals in the new Programme for Government
Here are the proposals for education as outlined in the programme. Judge for yourselves whether the issues addressed above have been adequately covered or not. You can download the document here
Croke Park
Agreement
Public
servants, including primary teachers, have made
a very significant contribution towards the
recovery of the economy. This includes:
- A pay increase due in 2009 was not paid.
- The moratorium has reduced promotion opportunities.
- The pension levy (average of 7.5%).
- A pay cut in January 2010.
- No compulsory redundancies.
- No further reductions in pay rates of serving public servants.
- A review in Spring 2011 and every year thereafter.
- Priority to public servants earning €35,000 or less in the event of savings.
- An extension within which the January 2010 pay cuts will be disregarded for public service pensions.
- The provision of an additional hour per week of non teaching time.
- Full implementation of new procedures for redeployment.
- A comprehensive review and revision of the teaching contract.
Fianna Fail
In respect of the Croke Park Agreement, Fianna Fail remains a key proponent of this accord between Public Service management and unions as a means to enable sustainable economic renewal.
Fine Gael
Pending a built-in review of its implementation, Fine Gael remains committed to honouring the pay elements of the Croke Park Agreement. The Party believes the priority in education should be protecting the frontline. In consultation with education partners, we will protect existing resources by delivering reforms and identifying any means of making already tight budgets go further.
Green Party
We are committed to the Croke Park Agreement as outlined in the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014. If the expected efficiencies of €1.4b are not met, the Croke Park Agreement may have to be revisited.
Labour
The Labour Party supports the Croke Park Agreement. A Labour government will make the Croke Park agreement work, unlike the current government. We believe savings of €1.4 billion could be made annually if the agreement is fully implemented and real returns in productivity are delivered across the public sector.
Sinn Fein
Once the deal is ratified by a majority of public service trade union members, the incoming government should honour it. Many public sector workers are living on low, wholly inadequate, wages and should not be subject to further cuts. We believe there ought to be no compulsory redundancies or pay cuts as supported by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour, and as will be pushed by the IMF as part of the bail out for the banks. Sinn Fein would use the public sector and direct public employment to kickstart the economy. The National Development Plan must be completely redrawn to focus on the more labour intensive and necessary infrastructure, such as schools to replace the prefabs that children are currently being educated in.
The below video shows what education spokespersons from each political party said in relation to the Croke Park Agreement at last Saturdays Regional Conference.
INTO Regional Conference - Question 1 from INTO on Vimeo.
School Leadership
In
recent years ever more responsibility has been
devolved to primary school leaders by the DES
particularly. School leaders are also expected
to engage with an ever increasing number of
agencies on whole school issues and on issues
relating to pupils in school.
Three quarters of
principals teach full time. Release days for
teaching principals have not been increased to
take account of this increased workload.
Funding for secretarial
and caretaking supports for schools is
completely inadequate and in most cases is
supplemented from school funds.
The moratorium on posts of
responsibility means that many roles and
responsibilities previously undertaken by
promoted teachers now fall to the principal in
particular professional development
opportunities for school leaders have been
scaled back.
The
Benchmarking award to primary principals and
deputy principals was never paid despite a
similar award being paid to higher civil
servants and others.
What the political parties say about
School Leadership:
Fianna
Fáil
Fianna Fáil recognises the
importance of leadership, especially in times of
difficulty and transition such as is currently
being experienced in Ireland and elsewhere.
Support for primary school leadership and
in-school management will be an important aspect
of change and modernisation. Recently, the
Department of Education and Skills has been
working with teachers to address concerns on
literacy and mathematics skills development.
Fine Gael
Fine Gael firmly believes
that school leaders have been thwarted in
leading learning by the Department of
Education's micro-management approach in the day
to day running of schools. We will give schools
greater control over their own budgets, to free
up the current administrative overload. We
believe devolving more power locally will give
the teaching profession the freedom and respect
it deserves and receives in other countries like
Finland.
Green Party
The Green Party will work
to support programmes that increase training
opportunities for primary school leadership and
in-school management.
Labour
Labour will reform school
leadership to give principals the skills,
support and freedom they need for this
increasingly complex job. We propose to give
principals substantial autonomy to manage their
school's resources, including staff, and to
enable all schools reach their potential. The
Labour Party's ambition is to reform the
education system so that it can play an even
greater role in creating a more equal and
prosperous society.
Sinn Fein
We will resource schools
to ensure that class sizes are decreased and
teachers are allowed to teach as opposed to
taking on extra posts of responsibility. We
would lift the recruitment embargo to ensure
that schools can run efficiently. Efficiency in
school has been hindered by removal of Special
Needs Assistants – we would ensure schools are
resourced so that children who need individual
help, are given the attention and help they
need.
The below video shows what
education spokespersons from each political
party said in relation to School Leadership at
the Regional Conference held on Saturday, 12th
February.
INTO Regional Conference 2011- Question 5: Leadership and In-School Management from INTO on Vimeo.
Important Information on Vhi Rates
In light of media focus on recent health insurance price increases at Vhi Healthcare, INTO representatives met with VHI earlier this month.
INTO wishes to highlight that:
- Vhi Healthcare has advised that the increase announced will not apply to members who purchased the Teachers' Plan in the last year.
- The Teachers' Plan since its launch in March 2010 has gained substantial coverage amongst the teaching profession and Vhi Healthcare state that is now being seen as the healthcare plan of choice for teachers.
- This dedicated teaching profession Plan is available to teachers and their immediate families where the teacher is a member of the INTO Group Scheme (the original scheme offering a 10% discount on all plans). The leaflet in the below link from Vhi set out the terms and offers related to the Teachers' Plan.
- Vhi Healthcare has clarified that members who opt to purchase the Teachers' Plan on or before 8th March 2011, can pay through their normal salary deduction arrangements.
- Adult - €695
- Student - €250
- Children - €100
The closing date to avail of these rates is 8th March 2011.
Please note, the INTO does not endorse any particular private health offers and you are advised to consider all options when making a decision on your health care provider.
Please contact Vhi Healthcare on CallSave 1850 201 241 if you have any further queries.
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Primary teachers' not to participate in work for free programme
Saturday, 12 February 2011
Press Statement Irish National Teachers’ Organisation
Primary teachers not to participate in work for free programme
The primary teachers union the INTO will issue a directive to its 32,000 members telling them not to participate in a government scheme which could see unemployed teachers working for free in schools. The scheme operated by FAS was announced last November by the Tanaiste and Minister for Education Mary Coughlan.
The decision was taken at a special conference today (Saturday 12th February) in Croke Park and was almost unanimously supported by the 800 delegates present.
The union's executive, while highly critical of the scheme had previously decided not to oppose it and had stopped short of directing schools not to cooperate.
Speaking after the conference the union's General Secretary, Sheila Nunan said she was unsurprised by the decision. She said it reflected teachers' anger at a fourteen percent cut in the pay of new teachers, proposed reductions to pension benefit and widespread teacher unemployment among graduates.
She also said there was unanimous condemnation of the Tanaiste's claim that the scheme was a major initiative to help the unemployed. "Clearly it is nothing of the sort," she said. "Not one additional job will be created."
The union will now issue a directive to all members telling them not to participate in the scheme.
The conference also saw the first education debate of the current campaign with all party spokesperson invited to debate education and economic issues in front of the delegates. Fergus O'Dowd, Fine Gael, along with Paul Gogarty from the Green Party and Ruairi Quinn from Labour attended.
Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein spokespersons refused to take part.
The questions raised included support for the Croke Park Agreement, funding and staffing of schools, provision of public services and reversing education cuts in the last budget.
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Webcast of Education Debate Tomorrow
A webcast will be available from the link below of the education debate at the INTO Regional Conference being held in the Croke Park Conference Centre tomorrow Saturday, 12th February 2011.
The debate which will take place between education spokespersons of political parties currently represented in Dáil Éireann will commence at 2.00pm and conclude at 3.15pm.
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Regional Conference to Debate INTO Strategy
More than 700 delegates from INTO Branches and Districts throughout the country will attend a Regional Conference in Dublin tomorrow to debate and discuss an INTO strategy document on issues confronting the Organisation in the coming years.
Amongst the topics being discussed are the current economic situation, staffing of primary schools, conditions for new entrant teachers, primary school funding and the challenges facing school leadership. The Conference will also include an Education debate between the education spokespersons of various political parties hosted by an independent chairperson.
Further information about the Conference will be posted here later.
For delegates attending the Conference who require car parking, please click on the link below which gives directions to the car parking facilities at the Croke Park Conference Centre.
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Meetings on Teacher Education, Literacy and Numeracy in District 8
- Tuesday, 15th February 2011: Stillorgan Park Hotel at 3.30pm
- Wednesday, 16th February 2011: Spawell Hotel at 3.30pm
- Thursday, 17th February 2011: Glenview Hotel at 3.30pm
- Thursday, 3rd March 2011: Glenview Hotel at 8.00pm
Literacy/Numeracy Meetings
District Committee Meeting
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Tánaiste Announces School Building Programme for 2011
The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan, TD, has announced details of the work that will be proceeding under the Department's school building programme in 2011.
Date: Tuesday, 25 January 11 -
Latest Eolas
The latest edition of Eolas is available for download here.
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Update on Croke Park Agreement
In talks with the DES agreement has been reached as to how the additional 36 hours per week may be utilised by schools. Click here to access the full document.
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Retirement Planning Seminars
Please note that there is still availability for the Retirement Planning Seminars taking place on 4/5 February and on 25/26 March in The Regency Hotel, Whitehall, Dublin 9.
- Please download application form from Members' Area of INTO website
Date: Thursday, 6 January 11
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Budget Measures Impact on Salaries
Teacher salaries received today reflect the impact of the changes announced by the Government last December in Budget 2011. Please note that the full impact of the Budget measures is reflected in this salary payment as it is made in the new tax year.
Although the payment period covers days in both 2010 and 2011, under taxation regulations the applicable tax deductions are made under the 2011 financial year.
Date: Thursday, 6 January 11 -
School Closures Due to Snow
The DES has confirmed to INTO that it will hold discussions with the teacher unions and management bodies in early January regarding the impact of the severe weather conditions on some schools.Pending these discussions it is the view of the DES that reopening prior to the agreed date of 10 January 2011 is unnecessary and in any event an adjustment to this date at this stage provides insufficient notice to parents, pupils and school staff.
It is also acknowledged that the impact of the snow has varied widely from region to region and from school to school and therefore different solutions may apply.
Date: Wednesday, 22 December 10
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INTO Statement on School Closures and Standardised Year
The INTO has issued the press release below in relation to comments about school closures due to the severe weather conditions.
The INTO has noted comments of the IPPN about the standardised school year. The union said the IPPN is not a party to any arrangements around the standardisation of the school year.
The INTO on behalf of teachers and principals agreed to standardise the school year as part of the Sustaining Progress national agreement in 2004. As a result the Department of Education and Skills, school management and the INTO negotiated standardised Christmas and Easter holidays and mid-term breaks.
The agreement emerged from a demand to give certainty to parents around school breaks to allow plans to be made for work arrangements, childminding and family holidays. It was widely welcomed at the time although the INTO pointed out that the agreement would have a negative impact on flexibility at local level.
The INTO said the extent of school closures due to weather had varied considerably with some schools reporting little or no disruption. It said as a result each Board would have consider the issue in relation to its own school. The union also pointed out that an attempt to manage the system centrally last year when all schools were ordered to close backfired badly and had to be rescinded.
The INTO described the IPPN’s comments as unhelpful coming at a time when teachers and parents are struggling to get to schools in the middle of the worst cold snap in decades. “It is not possible to say with any certainty what weather conditions will be like in early January. This makes talk of reopening schools on an earlier date in January, premature and speculative.”
A spokesperson said schools have already made significant efforts to keep schools open and cited examples of where teachers and parents had cleared and gritted approaches to schools. The union also said some schools had used closed days for teacher training and school planning. “Others have taught pupils using the internet where this was possible while other schools have already made up time lost by working a planned closure on 8th December 2010 where the Board agreed to this.”
The INTO also said the key planning that needed to be undertaken related to the gritting of roads and footpaths, particularly secondary roads. “Nearly every school closure related to safety issues outside of the control of schools,” said a spokesperson. “If this matter were addressed there would be fewer closings no matter how bad the weather.”
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CEC plans Response to Budget
The CEC of the INTO met over the last two days and reviewed recent announcements under the National Recovery Plan and Budget 2011 about salaries, pensions and school staffing. The CEC expressed considerable anger at the nature and extent of the proposed cuts.
The CEC decided on a range of initiatives, including a strategy for the coming General Election. An INTO Officers' Conference will be held on Saturday, 8th January 2011 in Dublin and a Special Conference, with delegates from all INTO Branches, will be held on Saturday, 12th February in Dublin. The CEC also decided to seek meetings with the Department of Education and Skills and primary school management authorities to clarify a number of serious concerns about the proposed Work Placement Programme.
Further updates will issue next week and the CEC will meet again before schools return in January 2011.
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Budget 2011
The Minister for Finance has announced Budget 2011. The following are the relevant documents.
- Summary of 2011 Budget Measures - Policy Changes
- Annexes to the Summary of 2011 Budget Measures
- 2011 Estimates for Public Services and Summary Public Capital Programme
- 2011 Education Measures
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Budget 2011
Statement by Sheila Nunan, General Secretary, Irish National Teachers' Organisation on Budget 2011.
Ordinary citizens shoulder cost of bank bail out
The INTO said today's budget landed the bill for the bank bail-out firmly on the backs of ordinary men women and children.
"Nothing and no one has been spared," said INTO General Secretary Sheila Nunan. "The cost of bailing out the banks has been spread from the cradle to the grave."
"The budget is neither fair nor equitable," said Ms Nunan. "Ordinary tax payers such as teachers are seeing another significant immediate loss of income while property investors will continue to benefit until 2014."
She described the prospect of the budget reversing the country's economic downturn as slim. "It is a recipe for economic disaster. Taking even more money from the pay of ordinary workers will kill any prospect of growth, the key ingredient of national recovery."
The INTO said new teachers will see a reduction of up to 14% in starting salaries. Retired teachers above 12,000 per annum will see a loss in their pensions.
"Cuts to children’s allowances, minimum wage, unemployment benefit will really hurt disadvantaged families," said Ms Nunan. "At the same time services on which they depend will suffer. Cuts to school funding, increases to school transport and a reduction in teacher numbers will all compromise education services."
The marginalised have been kicked not once but twice by the budget.
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INTO Introduces New SubSearch Website
The INTO has set up a new service aimed at helping unemployed teaching graduates to get substitute work in primary schools.
SubSearch allows a qualified primary teacher who is available for substitute work, to register with the site and confirm their availability in up to three locations throughout the country. Principals who register on the site will be able to search and get a list of available substitutes, and will also be able to define the distance from the location they wish to search.
In light of the very high levels of teacher unemployment being experienced by recent graduates the INTO urges all principals to register on the site and avail of the facility. It is important that all members do as much as they can to maximise employment opportunities for recent graduates.
The website can be found at http://subsearch.into.ie
Date: Wednesday, 1 December 10 -
Important Circular on filling vacancies
The DES has
just issued Circular 67/2010 outlining
procedures for filling teaching vacancies that
arise during the remainder of the 2010/11 school
year. The procedures at primary level mean that
any permanent teaching vacancies, with the
exception of School Principal and Deputy
Principal posts, that arise between 1 December
2010 and the end of the school year may be
filled only on a temporary basis.
The
Circular is framed in the context of the
announcement last night about a reduction in
teacher numbers for the next school year, and
the consequential impact this will have on
teacher redeployment panels. The CEC is holding
a special meeting next Saturday to consider all
the issues arising from the National Recovery
Plan announced by the Government yesterday.
Click here to download Circular 67/2010
National Demonstration - Saturday, 27th November
Let your voice be heard. Join the march to the GPO. Assemble at 12 noon on Saturday, 27th November at Wood Quay, Dublin 2.
Will you stand idly by while ordinary workers in Ireland are forced to pay for the greed of some senior corrupt bankers, property developers and politicians? ICTU are asking for your help this Saturday - before it is too late to do anything about it.
Forward the link below to as many of your friends as you can.
Reduction in Teacher Numbers
The INTO has just received details of a proposal to cut primary teaching posts from next September.
The details received from the DES are as follows:
€24m in savings (€98m in 2014) will be achieved by reducing teacher numbers through a combination of measures. These measures will lead to a reduction of up to approximately 1,200 posts in 2011 (700 primary posts, 500 post-primary) which, however, will be partly offset by the addition of some 875 new posts due to demographics. The measures to reduce teacher posts include:
- Defer provision of 150 extra teachers in September 2010.
- Change favourable pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) to the standard PTR for the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and for Gaelscoileanna.
- Withdrawal of Resource Teachers for Travellers posts at primary level and of equivalent teaching hours for Travellers at post-primary level. Transitional arrangements will be put in place for schools with a high concentration of traveller children.
- Redeploy existing supernumerary posts in post-primary schools from September 2011.
- A phased reduction in numbers of Language Support Teachers, through demand driven reduction and, if necessary, a change in allocation rules.
- Removal of Rural Co-ordinator teaching posts and of Visiting Teacher Service for Travellers.
Teachers will be redeployed in accordance with the terms of redeployment schemes.
- Download page 8 from December's InTouch which has just gone to print
- Download full press release here
Budgetary Plan Published by Government
The Government has published a four year budgetary plan today. What has been outlined today is that:
- Salaries will be cut for new entrants to the public service including teachers (10% cut plus starting on the first point of the scale).
- The education budget will be €9.2 billion in 2011, €9 billion in 2012, €8.95 billion 2013, and €8.87 billion in 2014.
- Initial indications suggest that class size will remain at current levels for next year.
- The retirement terms, based on 2009 salary levels, will be extended to the end of February 2012.
- A 5% reduction in all Capitation Grants.
- A cap on SNAs will be implemented at 2011 figures.
- €1.88 billion will be spent on educational infrastructure over the four years.
Further details, including taxation measures, will be posted here shortly.
- Download National Recovery Plan 2011 - 2014
- Download National Recovery Plan Summary Leaflet
- Download Budget Measures - Department of Education and Skills
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Threats to Class Sizes in Budget 2010
Monday, 1 November 2010
Statement by Sheila Nunan, General Secretary, INTO, on threats to class sizes in Budget 2010.
Class sizes in Irish primary schools already back at 2002 levels. A one point increase would put primary school classes back to 1997 levels.
The INTO said today it was appalled that the government was threatening to increase class sizes a year after promising no further cuts. The union described the threat to increase to class sizes as a direct attack on the frontline of education services which would affect more than half a million children.
Sheila Nunan, General Secretary of the INTO said, “In terms of class sizes Irish primary schools are already back at 2002 levels. A one point increase would put primary school classes back to 1997 levels.”
The INTO said today that Irish primary class sizes are already the second highest in the EU. On average there are 24.5 pupils in Irish classrooms compared to an EU average of 20. Smallest classes are to be found in Luxembourg where there are on average 15 pupils per class.
Ms Nunan said despite more than a decade of promises to reduce class sizes (see below) Irish schools were seeing average class sizes increase.
In 1997, when the first promise to reduce class sizes was made, average class size in Ireland was 26.1 (i.e. 446,359 ordinary class pupils divided by 17,123 class teachers).
In 2002, average class size in Ireland was 24.5 (i.e., 436,3912 ordinary class pupils divided by 17,807 class teachers).
In 2007 average class size in Ireland was 24.3 (478,489 ordinary class pupils divided by 19,665 class teachers).
In 2009, the last year for which figures are available the average class size was 24.5 (497,491 divided by 20,318 class teachers), showing that the downward trend in class sizes achieved in recent years has already been reversed.
Ms Nunan said despite year on year promises to tackle the issue of overcrowded classes, almost one hundred thousand children remain in classes of thirty pupils or more. She said the primary school classroom is the frontline of the education service. “It is where most children spend the majority of their time. Any negative adjustment in this area will severely impact on over half a million pupils and their families.”
ENDSPromises on Class Size
In 1997 the Fianna Fail election manifesto promised, “Under Fianna Fáil, staffing schedules will be based on a progressive reduction of class size, with particular emphasis on the needs of multi-class schools. We will adopt a more flexible approach to staffing schedules.
The 2002 Programme for Government stated ‘We will continue to reduce the pupil: teacher ratio in our schools. Over the next five years we will progressively introduce maximum class size guidelines which will ensure that the average size of classes for children under 9 will be below the international best-practice guideline of 20:1.’ (An agreed Programme for Government, 2002, p. 23).
The 2007 Programme for Government promised to ‘increase the number of primary teachers by at least 4,000. This will enable us to reduce class sizes. The staffing schedule will be reduced from a general rule of at least one teacher for every 27 pupils in 2007/8, by one point a year, to one for every 24 children by 2010/11’ (An agreed Programme for Government, 2007, p. 40).
In 2009 in the Renewed Programme for Government the government committed “itself to no further increase in the pupil teacher ratio in primary and second level schools for the lifetime of this Government. We will provide 500 teaching posts between primary and second levels over the next three years. We will immediately start the process of providing 200 posts to those schools most seriously affected by the recent increase in the PTR, using objective criteria which will be agreed in advance in consultation with the education partners, and will include an appeals process. A further 150 posts will be created in each of the following years.”
Research on Class Size
Recent evidence points to a critical threshold below which achievement gains are observed. Most researchers, beginning with Glass and Smith (1979) suggest that:- the threshold is 20,
- class size reductions are most effective with young pupils, and
- children from disadvantaged backgrounds benefit most.
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Broadband Connectivity in Primary Schools
Monday, 4 October 2010
Statement by Sheila Nunan, General Secretary, INTO, on Broadband Connectivity in Primary Schools.
Computers without broadband like cars without petrol
The INTO described today’s announcement by Eamon Ryan, Minister for Communications Energy and Natural Resources of improved broadband connections for second level schools only as “building castles in the air”.
"Just as there is no point in building a house without sound foundations there is no point in starting modern broadband investment at second level," said Sheila Nunan, General Secretary of the union.
"By the time the pupils transfer to second level they will have switched off computing in schools due to primitive broadband. Most primary schools have only domestic broadband connectivity,” said Ms Nunan. “This is completely inadequate for schools to use computers for delivering the primary school curriculum. It completely undermines the Department of Education’s plan to put teaching laptops into classrooms which began last year.”
Ms Nunan said giving computers to schools without the broadband to connect them was like having a car with no petrol.
The INTO also said if second level schools remain the government’s priority it will be over twenty years before primary schools get this sort of connectivity.
The union said over two years ago the Minister promised the government would deliver high-speed broadband to every second level school in the country.
“Today’s announcement means that since July 2008 ten percent of second level schools have been connected with high speed broadband,” said Ms Nunan. “At this rate of progress it will be another twenty years before all second level schools are connected and the government gets around to primary schools.”
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Education (Amendment) Bill 2010 published
The long-awaited Education Amendment Bill was published today (28th September 2010). This Bill provides for the involvement of VECs in primary education. It also sets out a number of proposed changes to the Education and Teaching Council Acts. Speaking following the publication of the Bill INTO General Secretary, Sheila Nunan said given the numbers of teacher unemployed or in casual employment at present, it was astonishing that the Minister should even contemplate the employment of non-teachers. “It is completely unacceptable for a non-teacher to be employed in schools when highly qualified teachers are seeking work,” said Ms Nunan. She said the Minister should be making provision for the establishment of supply panels of qualified teachers so that every teacher absence was covered by a fully qualified teacher. “All children are entitled to be taught by a teacher,” said Ms Nunan. “A person with no teaching qualification is not a teacher.”
The main provisions of the Bill are:
- The Bill provides for the involvement of a VEC in the provision of primary education both on its own initiative and on the direction of the Minister. Subject to the consent of the Minister, a VEC may establish and maintain a school to provide primary education, and may become patron or joint patron of an existing primary school. The Bill provides that the board of management of a school established under this legislation will adhere to the procedures governing the appointment of boards of management in other recognised primary schools.
- The Bill also provides for an amendment in the definition of ‘support services’ in the Education Act 1998 in order to clarify the position in relation to delivery of speech therapy services and other health and personal services to students of school-going age.
- The Bill provides for the abolition of the Educational Disadvantage Committee, a formal statutory Committee, announced in Budget 2008.
- The Bill provides for the employment, in certain exceptional and limited circumstances, of persons who are not registered teachers following consultation with management, unions and the Teaching Council.
The Education (Amendment) Bill 2010 is available to download on
www.oireachtas.ie
Date: Tuesday, 28 September 10 -
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Cheque Presentation to OLHSC, Crumlin
€115,000 raised this year – thanks to INTO members
Proceeds of the 2010 Annual INTO Members draw were presented to Edel O'Malley of the Children's Medical and Research Foundation. The presentation took place on 8th September in the school room at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin.
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Thank you for you support, INTO members very generously raised €115,000, the prize fund amounted to €41,000 which left €74,000 remaining to donate to the hospital. We would also like to extend our gratitude to staff representatives for facilitating the draw in their respective schools.
Date: Monday, 13 September 10 -
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Back row from left: Mary McCarron, Principal; Brenda Hogan, SNA; Yvonne McDonagh, Deputy Principal; Fergal McNamara.
Front: Annette Hennessy; Jim Higgins, INTO President; Georgina Glackin, INTO; Edel O'Malley, Children's Medical and Research Foundation; Noel Ward, Deputy General Secretary, INTO; Josh Fagan, 4; Marcio Pinto, 5; and Anna Olivera, 6.
Proposed Pensions Framework
The Government has published a proposal for a national pensions framework.
The CEC of the INTO will give detailed consideration to the proposals at its meeting next week.
