THE Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) has accused county councillors of "political interference in the appointment and promotion of vocational school teachers."
The union says it has "demonstrable evidence" of cases of political interference in which county councillors sitting on VECs have tried to appoint teachers "of their own political persuasion".
"The present system used to appoint and promote teachers has lent itself to allegations of political interference," Mr Jim Dorney, TUI general secretary, said.
In one instance, according to Mr Dorney, a VEC tried to overturn the decision of an interview board for a principalship by selecting the board's second choice, who was a member of the committee. This was resisted successfully by the union.
The TUI said the current procedures, involving an interview board dominated by local politicians, are "crying out for revision".
"The interview boards as currently constituted don't have the necessary skills, expertise or knowledge to appoint teachers," Mr Dorney said. Even in cases where appointments are fairly made, the persistence of allegations about other cases serves to blemish the entire sector, he claimed.
Details of the allegations, and the TUI's proposals for a revised, system of appointments, have been furnished to the main political parties. When Fine Gael was in opposition, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, sponsored a Private Members' Bill calling for a change in the regulations.
The TUI points out that local politicians have no involvement In appointments to primary or secondary schools. In addition, it says the vocational sector is the last area of local authority services, In which the Local Appointments' Commission does not have a role.
Apart from a reconstitution of Interview boards, the union is seeking clearly defined criteria for appointments and the introduction of an appeals mechanism.
Following the breakdown of talks on the issue with the Irish Vocational Education Association, which manages the 250 schools in the sector, the TUI is to picket all VECs on Wednesday. A rolling series of one day strikes is, then planned, starting next month. The union also insists it will not conclude the talks on a new pay and conditions deal for teachers under the PCW until the appointments issue is resolved.
