Budget ‘yet another missed opportunity’ for education – TUI

By piofficer, Tuesday, 1st October 2024 | 0 comments

In its initial reaction to Budget 2025, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has said it is already clear that the measures will do little to effectively address the deficits and inequalities caused by underinvestment and unrestored cutbacks.

‘We await full detail on the Budget 2025 education measures, but it is already clear that they will not remedy the damage that underinvestment and unrestored cutbacks have caused to the education system,’ said TUI President David Waters.

‘As a country, we were already starting from a low base, with the latest OECD figures showing that of the countries for which figures are provided, none spend a lower proportion of national wealth on education than Ireland’s.’

Recruitment and retention crisis will worsen

‘From the information available so far, it seems that that the Budget is silent on the measures that would tackle the recruitment and retention crisis that sees students miss out on subject choice.’

‘Specifically, there appears to be no increase in teaching allocation to schools that would allow us to move on from the disgraceful situation where just a third of teachers are able to start on a contract of full hours.’

‘We also haven’t heard anything yet on whether posts of responsibility – which provide a pastoral care framework and ensure the smooth running of schools while offering promotional opportunities – will receive any uplift at all.’

Extension of free schoolbooks scheme

‘We welcome the extension of the free schoolbooks scheme to Senior Cycle, but in doing so the Department must provide resourcing for the administrative duties involved in this area.’

Mobile phones and related issues

‘It is important to state that in terms of tackling the challenges posed by mobile phones and so many other issues, schools are in a worse position now than they were before posts of responsibility were unilaterally cut in 2009.’

‘In a survey of our membership earlier this year, 91% stated that they believe the range of challenges that young people face has increased in the last five years. Pastoral supports must be enhanced to allow schools to provide the supports and early intervention that students need.’  

Third level funding

‘While the increase in core funding to higher education is a step in the right direction, it is still a long, long way off the investment that is required to address the sector’s chronic funding crisis.’

‘The latest international indicators show that our spend as a percentage of GDP is just half that of the OECD average. This is unacceptable.’

‘At a time when there is unprecedented focus on the key role of education in our economic and social wellbeing, the long-standing failure to provide the necessary resources and staffing risks inflicting severe operational and reputational damage on our education system.’ 

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