Job Losses in Primary Schools 24/02/09

INTO PRESS RELEASE: Statement by John Carr, General Secretary on Job Losses in Primary Schools

24th February 2009

Statement by John Carr, General Secretary, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation On Job Losses in Primary Schools

Over a thousand primary teaching jobs to be lost

The INTO said the information put into the public domain today by the Education Minister simply confirmed the union’s view than up to a thousand posts would be lost in primary schools. When the cuts were announced as part of last October’s budget the INTO said about a thousand posts would be lost.

John Carr general secretary of the union said in addition to the 254 mainstream class teaching posts being lost overall, dozens more schools will not be unable to appoint teachers because of the Minister’s decision to increase class size.

According to the INTO the pupil population will increase by more than ten thousand next September. “The Minister’s cutbacks will result in serious overcrowding in primary school classes,” said Carr.

The union said that in addition to the mainstream class teaching posts being lost up to 500 teachers for English language support were being axed, 128 special classes were set to close and nearly 60 social inclusion posts such as Home School Co-ordinators are to go.

Mr Carr said that while many teachers would be redeployed to other schools, the main impact would be widespread unemployment for graduate teachers who simply will not find jobs.

The INTO said the admission of job losses on this scale in primary schools made a complete mockery of government promises to protect the vulnerable from the worst of the cutbacks. “It is obvious that when it came to education, the first port of call for cutbacks was frontline staff.”

Mr Carr accused the Minster of trying to massage bad news by calling the announcement provisional. “The fact of the matter is that up to now a minimal number of appeals against staffing decisions have been granted by the Department while only a handful of schools will be able to retain posts on a temporary basis pending redeployment.

According to the INTO the number of schools being prevented from making appointments is substantial. “In Co Clare for example Lahinch NS, St Aidans NS in Shannon, Clarecastle NS and Gaelscoil Mhichil Ciosog should have been able to appoint teachers but cannot because of the Minister’s cutbacks,” said INTO President Declan Kelleher, a native of Clare.  ENDS