|
|
|
|
|
Teachers unions call for ‘full reversal’ of cutbacks
11 October 2009 By Nicola Cooke
The main teachers’ unions have yesterday welcomed the reversal of some of the education cuts in the revised Programme for Government, but said that the sector was still underfunded.
The new programme provides for 500 teaching posts at primary and secondary level over the next three years, no college fees, no increase in the pupil teacher ratio, and capitation grants to be retained at their current levels. Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (Asti) spokeswoman Gemma Tuffy said that ‘‘given education has seen the most savage cuts teachers can remember ", the organisation welcomed ‘‘any row back of, or attitude to, tackling the cuts made’’.
However, Tuffy warned that members would continue to campaign against cuts, and that this would be part of a wider campaign with other unions.
‘‘We want a full reversal of all cuts," she said. ‘‘The pupil teacher ratio has worsened so much that some higher and ordinary level classes are being mixed, and other subjects, like science subjects, are being dropped. Grants have been cut and the pension levy hurt our members."
Peter MacMenamin, the general secretary of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI), called the new developments in the Programme for Government " a step in the right direction’’.
‘‘There has been a clear recognition of the importance of education by the Greens. However there’s a long way to go - the education system was underfunded before the cuts were made. We have already lost around 1,000 jobs in second level this year, so while 500 new posts is nowhere near adequate, it does help to address the situation."
A spokesman for education minister Batt O’Keeffe, who had championed the introduction of some form of third level fees, said the government had decided that ‘‘in the face of declining incomes, families did not need the further burden of third level fees’’.
‘‘When economic conditions improve, it is clear students will have to support themselves in some way, if they can afford to. The minister welcomes the extra allocation of teachers and believes it will alleviate any instances of larger than desired classes," he said.
|
|
|
