Noting the publication of A Safe Return to on-site further and higher education and research today, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI), which represents over 19,000 members at second level, further and higher education, has said that the plans must be fully consistent with the most up-to-date public health advice and that the health and safety of all students and staff must be paramount at all times in the process. The union stated that any changes in general public health advice must also be immediately reflected in the plan. Clear and consistent policy and communication on the public health requirements across further and higher education providers will be essential to establishing the necessary degree of confidence and keeping everyone safe.
TUI President Martin Marjoram said that academic staff had displayed great flexibility in the provision of remote learning during the pandemic, notwithstanding the additional work involved.
‘COVID-19 has added significant challenges to the working lives of academic staff, who have continued to provide a first-class service to students in conditions that would have been barely imaginable in even the recent past,’ he said.
A recent TUI survey of almost 400 lecturing staff in Institutes of Technology showed that as a result of the move to emergency remote teaching due to COVID-19, 92% of lecturers found that the preparation, provision and associated work involved took much more time (62%) or more time (30%) than face-to-face delivery.
In addition, the Union has said that additional resources must be made available to assist those students who may, for a variety of reasons, have struggled with elements of their education as a result of the pandemic. There must be engagement with the union on all proposed changes in educational and work practices affecting our members and resources identified as necessary in those discussions will have to be forthcoming.
Mr Marjoram said that before ever the pandemic arrived, the complete political failure to address the funding crisis at third level had wreaked severe damage on the sector, and that now more than ever, significant additional funding be provided as a matter of urgency.
‘In recent years, the time that staff can provide to students had come under immense pressure, with significantly less opportunity available to interact with students individually or in smaller groups,’ he said. ‘Clearly, in such a situation, it is those students who require the most additional support who lose out, and this obviously has an effect on worrying trends such as drop-out rates.’