'Deliberate underfunding' has hurt Ireland's education system, teachers' congress told
Ireland's education systems have suffered from 'chronic and deliberate underfunding', a teachers' union has been told.
In his opening address at the TUI annual congress in Wexford, the union's general secretary Michael Gillespie told members that the underfunding in question amounts to 'a legacy of austerity prolonged by political indifference'.
'Our economic circumstances are no longer an excuse for paltry spending and pitiful investment. There is no excuse for the continued neglect of our education system,' Mr Gillespie said.
'What is needed now is decisive, transformative investment in public education, investment that recognises the value of our work and the needs of our students.'
On the most recent public pay agreement which the teaching unions have endorsed, the general secretary said productivity-based increases to teacher salaries – a local bargaining element of the agreement which could lead to pay hikes of up to 3% - should not have the unintended consequences of leading to additional workloads, intensification of work, or 'unrealistic efficiency demands'.
Mr Gillespie said that work intensification for teachers 'is breaking our profession'.
'There is an ever-increasing workload and never enough time. When time disappears, work intensification takes its place. This spiral is unsustainable,' he said. 'Let us call it what it is – burnout.'
The union will on Wednesday morning launch the results of a study regarding health checks of educators across the country.
In order to alleviate workplace stress, union members must insist upon the 'necessary goal' of reducing student contact hours to 20 per week, and classroom ratios to 20 students per class, he said.
In terms of senior cycle reform, Mr Gillespie said his union had entered talks with the Department of Education 'in good faith'.
The coming reforms, set to be introduced next September, have been a major bone of contention for teaching unions, which claim they will put an onerous burden on teachers while reducing educational standards.
Mr Gillespie said that the union has 'already tabled a substantial set of proposals' which he said would centre the talks around "what our members need and what our students deserve'. 'If the system is to change, the supports must change too. Anything less will fail,' he said.
He welcomed the minister for education's decision to allow teachers earlier access to a permanent contract, announced on Monday. However, he said schools should also receive enhanced allocations for teacher hours, with clearly defined 'career pathways' to keep teachers in the profession.
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Leaving Cert reforms to proceed as planned despite concerns raised by teachers' unions
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RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
ASTI calls for talks with department after Leaving Cert reform rejection
The ASTI has called for talks with the Department of Education following the rejection by its members of measures to support implementation of the Senior Cycle redevelopment programme from this September. Commenting on the comprehensive rejection by teachers' union members of the proposals, the union's General Secretary Kieran Christie said "we think there is scope for further engagement". Asked about the possibility of additional talks now Minister for Education Helen McEntee said Leaving Certificate reform will still go ahead this September and the package of measures that have been agreed will remain. The ASTI rejection, and its strength, has come as a surprise to many as 67% of members rejected the plans in a ballot that had a high turnout - 73% of members. Members also gave their union a mandate for action up to and including industrial action. A week earlier, Teachers Union of Ireland members voted to accept the measures. The TUI leadership had recommended acceptance, whereas the ASTI made no recommendation to its members. The ASTI rejection is a significant indication of the concern felt by teachers around aspects of the reform. What it will mean for the implementation of Senior Cycle reform is not as yet clear. The union's next steps have yet to be agreed upon. Its executive is due to meet in ten days time and, according to Mr Christie, will "be looking at the outcome of the ballot and considering a way forward". Mr Christie said there was "a need now for calm heads to prevail". Teacher concerns centre on Additional Assessment Components (ACCs), which will be worth 40% of all marks in a revamped senior cycle. The AACs will typically involve practical project work completed during the year, which will then be written up into a report and will then be assessed. Teacher concerns include the potential for students to use AI to cheat when writing these reports. There are also other concerns around equity. The science subjects are among the first to be revamped, starting this September for students entering 5th year. Biology teacher and member of the union's Executive Council Adrieanne Healy said teachers were looking for the changes to be paused for a year. Calling the introduction "rushed", she said while some private fee-charging schools had state-of-the-art science laboratories as well as lab technicians, many other schools had facilities of a far lower standard. She said teachers were concerned about the impact of this inequality on student outcomes. Commenting on teacher worries around the potential misuse of AI by students, in order to cheat, Ms Healy said teachers could not understand why a system with "100% integrity" was being replaced with one with only "60% integrity". Speaking later, the Minister for Education said reform of the Leaving Certificate will be an "absolute game changer" for students. "This is about equipping our young people for what is an ever-changing world. It's about taking our pressure off them, that absolute focus on exams at the end of the year and making sure we are testing their abilities, different skills, different requirements for people to move into the workforce," Helen McEntee said. She said acknowledged the ASTI statement but added "Leaving Cert reform will still go ahead this September". "All of the unions have signed up to this as part of the public sector pay agreement," she said.
The Journal
3 days ago
- The Journal
Threat of industrial action in secondary schools as ASTI rejects Leaving Cert reform package
THE ASSOCIATION OF Secondary Teachers in Ireland have rejected measures aimed at enabling Leaving Cert reforms, and voted in favour of industrial action. ASTI members voted to reject the Senior Cycle Redevelopment – Implementation Support Measures' by 68% to 32%. The turnout was 73%. The reforms, which are due to be implemented this September, propose allocating a minimum of 40% of Leaving Cert marks to project work or practicals across all subjects in an effort to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of student's skills. But teachers have voiced concerns about how the moves will affect the way students are assessed and marked, especially in the context of the risk of students using artificial intelligence to complete assignments. In a separate ballot, the union voted by 67% to 33% in favour of industrial action, 'up to and including strike action', in opposition to the accelerated implementation of the Leaving Cert reforms. The union said the outcome points to 'a lack of confidence in the accelerated Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme as it is currently constituted'. ASTI General Secretary Kieran Christie said the support measures on offer 'do little to provide a Senior Cycle experience for all students that addresses the core inequalities that are in place in the second-level system'. Advertisement He said ASTI research published this year shows that a key concern 'is the lack of resources and capacity in schools to introduce such radical change in an effective manner', along with developments in AI and insufficient teacher training in some subject areas. 'The support package available from the Department fails to sufficiently address these concerns,' he added. The ASTI said it will continue to be available to engage with the Minister for Education and her Department 'in relation to how these and other significant concerns can be addressed'. In a statement, Education Minister Helen McEntee said the support measures on offer followed 'positive engagement' between the Department and the ASTI, as well as the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI). Last week, TUI members voted by 73% to 27% to accept the supports package. The Department said that it will seek to engage with the TUI leadership in the coming days as it proceeds to implement the support measures. McEntee said ASTI members have committed to cooperating with Senior Cycle Redevelopment and had confirmed to Department officials that their members will teach the new and revised specifications from the next school year. She also said that the vote 'will not affect the implementation of targeted supports for students contained in the package'. 'As I confirmed in April, the implementation of the programme will continue with the introduction of the first tranche of new and revised Leaving Certificate subjects in September 2025 as previously announced. 'The package of additional supports contains a number of significant measures aimed at supporting students directly. I am absolutely committed to delivering on those measures as we proceed with implementation of this programme.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Irish Independent
ASTI votes down Leaving Cert reform package
The package related to teachers and their conditions of employment and apply only to those teachers who become parties to the agreement. The ASTI, in a separate ballot, voted 67pc to 33pc in favour of industrial action 'if necessary, up to and including strike action, in opposition to the accelerated implementation of the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme'. Education Minister Helen McEntee said: 'Despite the positive engagement between the ASTI, the TUI and my Department in the recent negotiations, the ASTI's membership have voted not to accept this strong package of supports for teachers, schools and students on offer.' Despite the ASTI voting against this package, changes to senior cycle are still set to go ahead. Under the terms of the Public Service Agreement, ASTI members have committed to cooperating with Senior Cycle Redevelopment. In addition, in engagements before the ballot process, the ASTI confirmed to Department officials that their members will teach the new and revised specifications from the next school year. Minister McEntee added: 'As I confirmed in April, the implementation of the programme will continue with the introduction of the first tranche of new and revised Leaving Certificate subjects in September 2025 as previously announced. 'From the very outset, the Senior Cycle Redevelopment programme has been motivated by the needs of our students. "The world is rapidly changing and it is important that we equip students with the skills they will need to succeed and to thrive when they finish school.' In the coming days, the Department will seek to engage with the leadership of the Teachers' Union of Ireland as it proceeds to implement the support measures. ASTI General Secretary Kieran Christie said: 'ASTI research published in 2025 shows that a key concern is the lack of resources and capacity in schools to introduce such radical change in an effective manner. "Furthermore, the supports on offer do little to provide a Senior Cycle experience for all students that addresses the core inequalities that are in place in the second-level system."
