CEC Condemns Government Decision on Teacher Numbers and Promotion
DES issue Circular on Implementation of Moratorium on promotions in the Public Service
The Executive of the INTO met yesterday and unanimously
condemned the government decision to cap teacher numbers and embargo
promotion in primary schools. The government has announced a moratorium on recruitment and promotion across the public service. In the case of education, this means that the number of teachers and SNAs will be capped at the September 2009 figures. Vacancies arising thereafter can be filled but only subject to the overall number of teachers or SNAs.
Promoted posts of principal and deputy principal will continue to be filled in the normal way. However, vacancies for posts of assistant principal and special duties teachers will not be filled with immediate effect. The only exception to this embargo will be newly established schools.
The CEC of the INTO considered a range of issues in relation to the reconvened talks on a programme for national recovery and the implications of the moratorium. The CEC decided to meet again next week after the Budget of April 7th to review all developments.
Further updates will be posted as the situation develops.
31 March 2009
New Circular on EAL
The DES has issued circular 0015/2009 on support for pupils with English as an additional language. The circular outlines a new formula for teacher allocation. The circular also allows an appeal process for primary schools where at least 25% of their total enrolment is made up of pupils that require EAL support.25 March 2009
Pension Levy Deduction
The salary cheque received by teachers on Thursday last 5 March covered payment for the fortnightly period Tuesday 17 February to Monday 2 March. The pension levy was introduced on 1 March ’09. Accordingly the pension levy deduction applied to only 2 of the 14 days in this pay issue (i.e. 1 and 2 March).
The annual pension levy will be charged as follows: 3% on the 1st €15,000 earned; 6% on the next €5,000 and 10% on the balance.
10 March 2009
Teachers With Restricted Recognition
The INTO has been in discussions with the DES to clarify the position of teachers with restricted recognition where schools are losing posts.Set out below are the panel procedures that should be followed when a school is losing a post held by a teacher with restricted recognition:
- If the teacher with restricted recognition can be deployed elsewhere in the school, i.e., the school has another special class and/or resource post, s/he takes up that post and the most junior teacher in the school, if eligible goes on the panel.
- If all of the special class posts/resource posts allocated to a school are held by teachers with restricted recognition and one of these posts is withdrawn, the most junior of the teachers with restricted recognition, if eligible, goes on the special panel.
- If there is just one post in the school (special class or resource post) held by a teacher with restricted recognition and if this post is withdrawn, the teacher with restricted recognition, if eligible goes on special panel.
06 March 2009
Job Losses in Primary Schools
Over a thousand primary teaching jobs to be lostThe INTO said the information put into the public domain today by the Education Minister simply confirmed the union’s view than up to a thousand posts would be lost in primary schools. When the cuts were announced as part of last October’s budget the INTO said about a thousand posts would be lost.
John Carr, INTO General Secretary, said in addition to the 254 mainstream class teaching posts being lost overall, dozens more schools will not be unable to appoint teachers because of the Minister’s decision to increase class size.
- Click here for INTO press releases on this issue
- Click here to download the DES document Provisional List of Losses and Gains of Mainstream Teaching Posts for 2009/2010
- RTE News 26/2: Language teaching cuts criticised
- TV3 news 26/2: Teacher job losses
- RTE Radio 1 24/2: Late Debate download - interview with Declan Kelleher (37 minutes in)
02 March 2009
Closure of Special Classes
The INTO has strongly criticised the decision of the Department of Education and Science to close 128 special classes in primary schools without warning. The classes are for children with mild learning difficulties and are located in local national schools throughout the country.
These classes provide special education support for children in mainstream primary schools. Generally the children in these classes had been unable to fully benefit from the curriculum in regular mainstream classes. The special classes are part of the range of options available to special needs children from special schools to full inclusion in mainstream primary classes.
- Click here for full text of press release
- Click here to link to a Radio na Gaeltachta programme "Faoi Chaibilil" from 15/2. Includes a radio column by INTO Senior Official Deirbhile Nic Craith.
16 February 2009