The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has congratulated Helen McEntee on her appointment to the position of Minister for Education and Youth and James Lawless on his appointment to the position of Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The union represents teachers and lecturers in second level schools, colleges of further education and in technological universities and Institutes of Technology.
TUI General Secretary Michael Gillespie said that the TUI ‘looks forward to meeting with the new ministers and will be stressing the need for significantly increased investment in all areas of the public education system.’
‘It is crucial that the ministers recognise the need for full and meaningful consultation with the relevant unions in the development of any new education policies or on any matters affecting the terms and conditions of teachers and lecturers.’
He set out some key issues that the TUI wants urgent engagement with the new ministers on.
‘The recruitment and retention crisis is worsening and schools are experiencing unprecedented difficulties filling vacancies. While the accommodation emergency affects all of society and must be dealt with on a national basis, contracts of full hours must be provided from initial appointment to boost recruitment and teachers must have access to enhanced career structures to ensure staff retention. It must also be made easier for Irish teachers to return home from abroad.’
‘At third level, the latest international indicators show that our paltry investment level is lagging far, far behind what is required. Ireland’s spend (0.5% excluding R&D) is just half that of the OECD average and the ratio of students to lecturers has been consistently and unacceptably higher than international norms. This is a shameful and unacceptable legacy of a refusal at political level to address the sector’s funding crisis in any meaningful way. The new Government must commit to a long term, sustainable funding model for the Technological University/Institute of Technology sector. The scourge of precarity of employment in higher education settings must also be properly tackled.’
‘The TUI has already called for a delay in the implementation of Senior Cycle redevelopment. The accelerated pace of the redevelopment risks undermining both educational standards and fairness for Leaving Certificate students. There is far too much at stake for this not to be done properly.’
‘Ireland’s Further Education and Training (FET) sector has consistently proven itself in evolving to meet the needs of the economy and society, but those employed in this sector must be valued in the same manner as other public sector educationalists. Despite undertakings by previous ministers, engagement on important developments in the sector continues to be poor. The new Government should be committed not only to appropriate funding for this important sector, but to proactive engagement with the TUI as the voice of the practitioners.’
‘Overall, if our education system is to be successful and if the needs of students are to be properly met, teaching and lecturing jobs must be attractive career options and have manageable workloads in a properly resourced education system.’