THE DEPARTMENT of Education has accused the teachers’ unions of breaching the national partnership agreements by withdrawing from parent/teacher meetings and other activities from this morning.
Members of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) and the Association of Secondary Teachers’ Ireland (ASTI) have been directed to withdraw from parent/teacher meetings outside school time; staff meetings outside school time and school development planning meetings. The main primary teacher union, the INTO, has no plans to issue a similar directive.
Yesterday, a spokesman for Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe said the department “has already indicated to unions at the Teachers’ Conciliation Council that it considers such action a serious matter and in breach of earlier national partnership agreements. We’ll be considering the matter further’’.
The unions’ decision to attend parent/teacher meetings after school was regarded as a major concession. It formed part of a productivity package that helped to deliver a 13 per cent pay increase for teachers under benchmarking.
At this stage, it seems unlikely the department will dock pay from teachers supporting what is seen as low-level industrial action.
Yesterday, the TUI predicted the embargo on the appointment of teachers to special duties and assistant principal posts would make school administration close to impossible.
General secretary Peter MacMenamin said: “Our education system has already been asset-stripped by a range of savage cutbacks that will result in the reduction of subject choice, larger class sizes and even prevent some students from having school books next September. Now the long-established support framework that ensures the efficient running of our schools has been mercilessly targeted. The embargo on appointment of teachers to posts of responsibility throws the administration of schools into absolute chaos. These vital positions, such as year heads, class tutors or examination secretaries offer essential educational and pastoral support to the student body.’’
John White, ASTI general secretary, said the embargo was devastating for schools. “Schools are reliant on these posts to carry out the administrative responsibilities of schools, pastoral care co-ordination and administrative work . . . disciplinary responsibilities, and other such complex and time-consuming responsibilities. Without these posts, schools will simply be overwhelmed.’’
