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Irish Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on Leaving Cert reforms: AI must be taken seriously
The Government and teachers' unions may be on a collision course over the introduction of major reforms to the Leaving Certificate later this year. The changes, due to be introduced for all students entering the senior cycle this September, will see nine new or revised subjects incorporating research projects worth 40 per cent of overall marks, a radical shift from the traditional reliance on written end-of-year exams. Secondary teachers' unions will conduct ballots in the coming weeks on whether to accept the package proposed by the Government to ease the introduction of the reforms. These include pay increases, permanent contracts for new teachers and the creation of additional middle-management positions. The Teachers' Union of Ireland has recommended acceptance, but the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland has made no recommendation. Further votes on industrial action are expected should the proposals be rejected. READ MORE These reforms have long been sought by educationalists who believe the current Leaving Cert is too rigid, places excessive pressure on students and encourages rote learning rather than critical thinking. Some supporters of the changes will undoubtedly be frustrated that the concerns expressed by the unions might lead to delays. There is merit, however, to some of the criticisms of the timing and manner in which the reforms are being introduced. Particular concern centres on use by students of artificial intelligence (AI). Generative AI tools already produce work that achieves high grades at postgraduate level. AI detection tools are unreliable and a thriving market has sprung up for software that makes detection impossible. It would be a tragic irony if reforms that are supposed to encourage individual development and independent thinking were to be undermined by a technology that bypasses exactly those human qualities. Minister for Education Helen McEntee should take teachers' concern seriously and engage further with them on the issue.
RTÉ News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
TUI urges members to support Leaving Certificate reform
Talks over Leaving Certificate subject reforms between the teacher unions and the Department of Education have concluded, with a package of supports offered for implementation of Senior Cycle Redevelopment from September. The Teachers Union of Ireland has said it will be recommending acceptance of the measures in a ballot of members. The ASTI trade union is also expected to ballot members. The measures include specific supports for the first tranche of subjects due to be introduced this September, including an increase in the amount of the current annual Physics and Chemistry grant and the extension of its scope to include Biology and Agricultural Science. Working groups will also be established to support the implementation and monitoring of the new programme including in areas related to AI. The Department says it has committed to "early rapid reviews" related to the implementation of revised subject specifications, including the operation of assessment arrangements. "Proceeding with the introduction of new and revised subjects under Senior Cycle Redevelopment in September, is in the best interest of students. It will help to reduce the pressure faced by students, while recognising a broader range of skills and ensuring that students have the skills necessary to thrive and succeed in a rapidly changing world", Minister for Education Helen McEntee said. TUI President David Watees said: "The Union believes that these proposals are the best that could be achieved through negotiation and that they have the potential to allay concerns expressed by teachers in terms of both workload and the resources required by schools and teachers to implement Senior Cycle redevelopment."
Irish Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Moves besides permanent contracts essential to addressing staff shortages, TUI delegates told
The move by Government to cut the amount of time new teachers must work before securing permanent contracts is welcome, but other measures are required to address the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis in secondary education, delegates at the Teachers Union of Ireland conference in Wexford were told on Tuesday. General secretary Michael Gillespie said widespread staff shortages were being fuelled by the difficulties being experienced attracting young teachers in the face of competition from overseas but also by resignations and early retirements, many of which, he said, are being prompted by the stress of the work. 'This is a crisis of the Government's own making,' Mr Gillespie told delegates. 'It is the inevitable result of repeated decisions to force the education system to do more with fewer resources.' He said schools need to be better resourced in order to attract new teachers and offer them clear career pathways, while specific measures are required, he said, to appeal to the large numbers of young teachers working in places such as Dubai and Australia, 'starting with recognition of teaching service overseas'. READ MORE 'We welcome the recent decision to allow teachers to gain permanent contracts one year earlier,' he said, describing it as 'a positive move'. However, he added, 'it is not enough'. The move on permanent contracts was something the union had been pushing for, although it wants permanent jobs offered from day one, he added. The Government now needs to act on other suggestions, including a reduction in the Professional Master of Education course from two years to one, and the restoration of abolished allowances for teachers working in special education, through Irish or on the islands, Mr Gillespie said. While recruitment needs to be a greater priority, he insisted, there is also a growing problem with retention, as a growing number of teachers resign or take early retirement due to the growing levels of work-related stress. Excessive workload and work intensification are 'breaking' the teaching profession, he said. [ Teachers to consider industrial action over proposed Leaving Cert reforms Opens in new window ] 'Across every sector of education, our members repeatedly raise the alarm: there is an ever-increasing workload and never enough time,' he said. The 'spiral is unsustainable. It is becoming a serious health and wellbeing crisis. Burnout is real and impacting our profession.' Research carried out by DCU found 85 per cent of teachers experienced high levels of work-related burnout, while half that many, 42 per cent, said they are likely to leave the profession early because of the issue. He said teachers were struggling with the same wider social issues as those working in every other sector of the economy, but were also having to cope with 'change overload' caused by emerging technologies, curriculum overload and endless new initiatives. 'And we are doing all this with the largest class sizes in Europe.' Addressing the conference later on Tuesday, Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless said Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) and the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) had not been forgotten about by Government despite the two institutes not yet becoming part of a larger third-level establishment. The Department of Further and Higher Education, he said, 'will continue to support the provision of significant financial and expert guidance to DkIT and IADT as they pursue their strategic plans in the coming years. 'However, it is not the role of any Minister to direct an institution to follow a particular path.'
RTÉ News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Bands for top Junior Cycle grades to be widened
It will be easier for Junior Cycle students to achieve the two top grades in their exams under changes to Junior Cycle grade bands announced by Minister for Education Helen McEntee. Marks for the two top bands, Distinction and Higher Merit, are being widened, making them easier to attain. The changes will come into effect for the more than 73,000 students due to sit their Junior Cycle examinations this coming June. A Distinction will now be awarded for marks from 85% upwards. It was previously awarded for marks from 90%. A Higher Merit will now be awarded for marks between 70% to 85%, instead of marks between 75% to 90%. The changes have been announced as the minister prepares to address teachers at their annual trade union conferences today and tomorrow. "This will have a positive impact on students, ensuring their grades are more reflective of their work and effort, as well as of the work of our teachers," Ms McEntee said. "It can be expected that higher numbers of students will achieve Distinction and Higher Merit grades with this change. "They remain sufficiently broad to ensure that students can focus on learning and engaging in school, and on becoming independent, resourceful and confident learners, rather than focusing solely on examinations," she added. Ms McEntee is due to address primary school teachers attending their annual congress in Galway this morning. She will then travel to Killarney to address post-primary ASTI delegates whose annual convention gets under way later. Meanwhile the Teachers Union of Ireland begins its conference in Wexford. Concerns around Leaving Certificate reform are expected to dominate debate at the gatherings in Killarney and Wexford. Teachers are calling for the deferral of plans to introduce new curriculums in a range of subjects, starting this coming September, which will see at least 40% of marks in all subjects awarded on the basis of assessment as opposed to exams. Talks took place between the teacher unions and the Department of Education and those talks are due to resume after the Easter break. Teacher shortages and heavy workloads to be highlighted at TUI congress The TUI will highlight concerns around teacher shortages, unsustainable workloads and Senior Cycle reform at its annual congress. The TUI said it welcomed plans announced yesterday which would see newly qualified teachers becoming eligible for permanent contracts sooner, but added that specific additional measures are required to tackle the teacher supply crisis. "Schools must be given enhanced teaching allocations so that they can provide full jobs," the union said. In terms of Senior Cycle reform, the TUI said that while it is in favour of positive reform, appropriate resources must be made available in a timely manner. The theme of this year's TUI Congress is 'Address Inequality, Invest in Education'. The conference will be addressed by Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless today and by Minister for Education Helen McEntee tomorrow. The event will be attended by over 500 delegates and guests. Motions will be debated on issues such as pay, pensions, housing and the conflict in Gaza. A motion on Artificial Intelligence calls for education professionals to be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to integrate AI into their teaching practices. The TUI represents 20,500 teachers and lecturers in second level schools, further education and training colleges and centres and Technological Universities/Institutes of Technology.
