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Seanad Discusses Education Amendment Bill

INTO representatives will be present this afternoon when Seanad Eireann recommences discussion on the Education Amendment Bill. The Bill provides for a number of important changes to the Education Act 1998 and the Teaching Council Act 2001.  

The Minister indicated that the Bill paves the way for Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act, which was designed to ensure that only those registered with the Teaching Council have the right to access paid employment as teachers in schools. The amendments to the Education Act will, however, provide in certain limited circumstances for the employment, in the place of a registered teacher, of persons who are not registered teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001. The INTO has set out its opposition to this amendment.

The INTO is also opposed to a proposed amendment of Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act to take account of the proposed changes to the Education Act, as the Minister for Education and Skills had previously given a commitment to commence Section 30 it in an unamended fashion.  

The INTO has been engaged in lobbying political representatives on these matters.

On a positive note, an INTO amendment to restore consultation rights has been tabled, and the Bill provides for redeployment procedures on a statutory basis. The INTO has submitted a number of further amendments to Senators and Deputies in the Oireachtas on the Bill. While aspects of this proposed legislation are necessary, the INTO has serious reservations about certain proposals, including the issue of legislating for any unregistered personnel and that of agreement on procedures.

Date: Tuesday, 31 January 12