PROMOTION POSTS in secondary schools will for the first time be determined largely on merit rather than seniority under new proposals drawn up by the Department of Education.
But the proposals - while backed by the ASTI leadership - are facing opposition from some members of the union's executive.
Teachers must sign up to the deal or face losing on the next increase of 2.5 per cent due under the national pay deal.
Under the proposals, school principals will for the first time play a key role in selecting candidates for promotion in community schools.
At present, promotional posts in secondary schools are awarded on the basis of seniority. The department has been seeking changes to this system for over a decade, but it has been met with stiff resistance from the ASTI.
The ASTI's general secretary John White has signalled his support for the new system, planned to be introduced on a phased basis from 2009. The new system will be phased in over six years.
Some of the ASTI's members complain that the new system will change the collegiate culture in the class room.
But others say that the new promotion system is long overdue. One trade union figure said: "No professional group can stand over any promotion system based on seniority . . . it is a throwback to another era."
The new promotions system has been worked out after what were described as "long and difficult" negotiations. The new system is largely based on that which has already been in operation in primary schools for the past decade.
At present, promotion in the ASTI schools is based entirely on seniority.
In TUI schools, largely vocational schools, seniority has a 33 per cent weighting in interviews for promotion.
Under the new system, candidates for promotion will be based on five separate criteria, which will all be given equal weighting.
These are: length of service; knowledge, understanding and capacity to meet the needs of the school; capacity to contribute to the overall development of the school, interpersonal and communication skills and capacity to contribute to the organisation and management of the school.
There will be no change for the 2008/09 school year, but selection of the basis of the five criteria will start from 2009/10 onwards.
There was some speculation last night that both the ASTI and the TUI would ballot their members on the proposed changes. The 180-member ASTI central executive will consider the new proposals at a meeting tonight.
