MINISTER FOR Education Mary Coughlan has announced a partial easing of the promotions embargo in schools but a teaching union has warned schools still face “chaos situation in September”.
Under the new deal, worked out with the Department of Finance, second-level schools will be able to fill assistant principal posts where the total number of posts falls below a certain minimum.
The new arrangements will also apply where schools have vacancies for teachers to co-ordinate programmes like the Leaving Certificate Applied and the Leaving Certificate Vocational.
The Minister also announced a limited derogation so that larger primary schools with assistant principal vacancies will be able to apply to the department for approval to make appointments.
Peter MacMenamin, general secretary of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI), said: “This small alleviation will barely stick a plaster over the severe damage already inflicted by the Government on the education system.
“It falls far short of clawing back the estimated 700 assistant principal posts lost and students will continue to suffer. Schools will face chaos in September in attempting to deal with this unacceptable deficit.”
The ban on promotions was introduced to cut the €500 million annual bill for allowances and promotion posts. Schools have been unable to fill assistant principal posts, worth €8,520 annually, and special duties posts, worth €3,769.
The two teaching unions which rejected the Croke Park public service pay and reform deal, the TUI and the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI), have directed members not to undertake duties left vacant by retiring post-holders or to agree to the reallocation of these duties.
As a result, many schools have had to operate without any middle management. The huge number of teachers retiring this year because of changed pension entitlement has exacerbated the problem.
The Government hopes the easing of the ban will shore up support for the Croke Park deal.
Last week, the ASTI signalled its willingness to discuss aspects of the deal, such as proposed changes to the teaching contract, but the TUI remains firmly opposed to all aspects of the deal.
Ferdia Kelly, general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body, the management body for voluntary secondary schools, gave a cautious welcome to the announcement.
“School management has been under very serious pressure due to the moratorium,” he said. “However, the JMB is concerned that schools will now finish up with only 50 per cent of their pre-moratorium level of assistant principals and will continue to lose special duties post holders. The newly published thresholds for assistant principals leaves secondary schools with an enrolment of less than 500 pupils unable to appoint a year head for each year group.
Sheila Nunan, general secretary of the INTO, which backed the Croke Park deal, said the move lacked certainty and clarity but any alleviation was welcome.
