Permanency
Teachers/Lecturers who have been appointed to a post which is designated as a PWT, with the approval of the VEC or the Board of Management in C&C schools or the Governing Body of an Institute of Technology and who have satisfied requirements with regard to qualifications and health, their position is permanent and pensionable.
Contracts (click to see separate contracts section)
VECs - The Contract specifies the nature of the post, salary, duties, notice of termination and must be signed by the teacher and Chief Executive Officer. Only the contract from Memo V7 should be signed by teachers employed by VECs. The employer in a Vocational School or Community College is the Vocational Education Committee.
Community & Comprehensive Schools- There is no agreed contract in the Community & Comprehensive sector. In a Community or Comprehensive school, the Board of Management is the employer.
Third Level - There is an agreed contract for permanent wholetime Assistant Lecturer, Lecturer, L1/L2 (appointed pre PCW agreement), Senior Lecturer 1, Senior Lecturer 2, Senior Lecturer 3, temporary wholetime Assistant Lecturer and pro rata Assistant Lecturer grades. The Institute of Technology is the employer. These are set out here, along with the agreed Contract of Indefinite Duration.
Medical Examinations
When first appointed to a post which is pensionable (either part-time or wholetime), a teacher must furnish a Certificate of Health from a doctor who shall be nominated by the employer.
Agreement has been reached that employers should offer teachers the choice of attending a male or female doctor nominated by the employer.
The employer pays the cost of the medical examination.
Irish Qualifications
Since the start of school year 1999/2000 there is no longer an Irish requirement for appointment as a second level teacher for the generality of teachers who are not required to use Irish in their usual daily duties. However, an Irish requirement does exist for; teachers employed in Gaeltacht schools; teachers employed in schools where Irish is the ordinary medium of instruction and teachers who teach any subject (other than Irish) through the medium of Irish in any school.
There is no requirement for an Irish Qualification in the Institutes of Technology.
Probation
Every teacher at both 2nd and 3rd level appointed for the first time in a permanent capacity is required to serve a probationary period of 1 year's duration. At the end of this period the teacher's appointment may be confirmed although the probation may be continued for a further period or in exceptional cases the appointment may be terminated with the sanction of the Minister.
At 3rd level for a TWT and part-time one year contract posts, a probationary period of at least 4 months will normally apply.
School or Scheme
Teachers employed by the VECs for second level schools are appointed to a scheme and may be assigned to any of the schools within the scheme. In addition teachers may be assigned between two or more centres. Such teachers are entitled to travelling expenses for travel between centres. Teachers in Community or Comprehensive Schools are appointed to that school. Principals or Deputy-Principals are appointed to a specific school.
Lecturers employed in 3rd level Institutes are appointed to the Institute.
Job Security
A teachers/lecturer’s job is secure provided the post is sanctioned as a permanent wholetime position. Teachers/lecturers may be suspended from office by the Minister or VEC, or Board of Management of a Community School, or Governing Body of an Institute of Technology where either party is of the view than unfitness for office exists. Such unfitness is determined following an inquiry. Removal from office only occurs where it is established that unfitness for office exists or that the teacher has failed to perform satisfactorily the duties of such office. Suspension and removal from office may take place in accordance with Section 7 and Section 8 of the 1944 Amendment to the Vocational Education Act of 1930. Sections 11 (9) and Sections 12 (9) of the RTC Act 1992 and of the DIT Act 1992 respectively, apply the provisions of the 1944 Amendment Act to members at 3rd level. Teachers should be paid while on suspension.
Inspection procedures in schools may provide for dismissal in certain circumstances following the issuing of three adverse reports on the teaching performance. An appeal mechanism in such cases is available to the teacher.
Lecturers in Institutes of Technology are protected by the Unfair Dismissals Act. Therefore any dismissal or non reappointment to a contract post after the expiry of the contract, provided service exceeds one year, will be capable of challenge under this Act. Cases can be taken to the Employment Appeals Tribunal or a Rights Commissioner within six months of the dismissal. All such cases must be taken through Head Office if the support of the Union is sought.
Transfers
Vocational teachers are liable for transfer within the scheme in which they are employed. Before being transferred the matter must be discussed with the teacher concerned in the first instance, the transfer shall not take place until reasonable notice has been given. Transfers should be notified to teachers before the end of May. Any transfers which are indicated to a teacher during the summer break should be immediately reported to a Branch Officer or Area Representative. Members should consult the Teacher Transfer Agreement between the TUI and IVEA which now accepts the principle of ‘last in, first out’.
Reasonable expenses of removal actually incurred may be allowed to a teacher on transfer. It was agreed that permanent teachers appointed after the PCW agreement, March 1997, who are surplus to requirements, may be redeployed to a suitable post in another VEC Scheme within a limit of 30 miles from their headquarters at that time and subject to further discussion on arrangements for the Dublin area. Discussion on the redeployment scheme will take place between the parties and will require the agreement of the parties.
Dismissal/ Suspension
Any member who is threatened with dismissal or suspension from a position should contact the Branch Officer or Area Representative immediately. It is most important not to leave matters until the suspension takes place.
Place of Residence
A Principal or Deputy-Principal of a vocational school may at the committee's discretion be required to reside in the vicinity of the school to which he/she is assigned. This requirement must be made clear prior to appointment.