4 days ago
Union says teachers returning from countries like Abu Dhabi shouldn't be on basic pay
THE TEACHERS' UNION of Ireland (TUI) has said that teachers returning home from working abroad in countries like Abu Dhabi outside of the EU shouldn't have to start back on the first point of the salary scale, and should instead be offered wages that reflect their experience.
TUI called for the measure to be brought in as part of a suite of recommended actions it wants to see from the Department of Education after a survey carried out by the union found that just one in four teachers appointed since 2015 landed full time work in their first job.
The survey found that just 11% of respondents were offered a permanent position on appointment.
The Union has said that the continuing teacher recruitment and retention crisis
Anthony Quinn, TUI President, said that it is 'utterly unacceptable' that so few teachers are able to get full time work.
'This is a significant problem at second level, where those commencing are forced to survive on mere fractions of jobs and often have to be subsidised by family, if they are fortunate enough to have this support,' Quinn further said.
TUI said that the measures announced by the Department of Education to address the shortage of teachers ahead of the coming academic year have been 'cosmetic' and have 'fallen short of what is required'.
Quinn said that it appears the Department is trying to 'ride out' the staffin crisis until 'demographics change and student numbers at second level fall'.
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He said that this approach will deny a generation of students the educational experience they are entitled to.
TUI is now calling for greater teaching allocations to allow more full-time permanent jobs from initial appointment.
The union also wants to see more promotions to posts of responsibility offered to teachers, to see the duration of the two-year Professional Master of Education course halved, and the reinstatement of allowances to teachers with a SEN qualification and to those who teach in Irish.
In June of this year Education Minister Norma Foley announced the extension of teacher supply measures that help schools to access additional teaching and substitute hours.
'The Teaching Hours Extension Scheme provides post-primary schools with an alternative means of sourcing appropriately-qualified substitute teaching cover to support teaching and learning in schools. Teachers on full teaching contracts of 22 hours can provide additional substitution cover, of up to 35 additional hours, for each term designated under the scheme,' her department said in a press release on the matter at the time.
Foley said that she is committed to tackling 'teacher supply challenges'.
She said that the supply measures that were extended didn't present a 'long-term' solution, but added that they will help schools to access 'qualified teaching for the students in their schools'.
If your child's subject options have been limited by staffing shortages and you want to speak about the matter get in touch with The Journal:
eimermcauley@
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