What is a part-time teacher?
A part-time teacher is a teacher whose normal hours of teaching are less than the normal hours of teaching of a permanent whole-time teacher for an equivalent period.
What is a part-time fixed-term teacher?
A part-time fixed-term teacher is any teacher:
- Who is registered with the Teaching Council and fully qualified for the post to which they are being appointed,
- Whose normal hours of teaching are less than the normal hours of teaching of a permanent whole-time teacher for an equivalent period,
- Is paid from exchequer funds, and
- Is employed on a fixed-term basis.
Regular part-time (RPT) fixed-term teachers
A regular part-time fixed term teacher who is employed for the school year to provide teaching for a number of hours each week should be offered a fixed term contract. It should specify the number of hours the teacher is required to work each week. The contract will normally run from 1 September to 31 August. However, a contract may commence in the period 1 September to the first working day of November. A regular part time fixed term teacher who commences employment after 1 September shall be paid on the Department payroll from the date of commencement of employment until 31 August. This is subject to the teacher continuing to be employed in the same school. The rate of pay for July and August will be the rate payable to the teacher on 30 June. This service is pensionable, and counts for incremental progression, and towards access to the supplementary panel and contracts of indefinite duration.
The updated version of the Primary Teachers appointment form for the school year in question should be completed for all new regular part-time appointments and forwarded to the Primary Teachers Payroll. This form is available on the Department website.
Part-time fixed-term teachers appointed after the first working day in November
A part-time fixed-term teacher who commences employment after the first working day in November shall be paid on an hourly basis, through the OLCS. Such contracts are referred to as Casual / Non Casual Appointments (CNCA). The hourly rate of pay is calculated by dividing the appropriate annual rate of salary by 910 for each hour worked.
Claims for the payment of these part-time fixed-term teachers should be submitted through the On Line Claim System by completing the Appointments Section of the OLCS.
The number of part-time hours sanctioned per week is based on a maximum of 37 weeks for the school year. Therefore any hours worked in excess of the 37 week threshold will not be paid for by the Department.
Changes in part-time hours allocated to the school during the school year
Any increase / decrease in part time hours during the school year should be submitted immediately to the Primary Allocations Section of the Department. Part-time primary teachers cannot work more than 25 hours per week.
Changes in hours allocated to a regular part-time fixed-term teacher
The contract offered to the teacher on appointment should make provision for a possible change in the number of hours allocated during the year. Any increase in the number of teaching hours allocated to a regular part-time fixed-term teacher during the period 1 September to the first working day of November must be notified to the Department’s Primary Teachers Payroll Section immediately and in writing. This is to ensure that the teacher is paid the correct salary.
Any increase in the number of teaching hours allocated to a regular part-time fixed-term teacher after the first working day of November must be claimed through the On Line Claim System. This is to ensure that the teacher is paid the correct salary. Additional hours worked by a part-time fixed-term teacher during the school year will be paid at a rate calculated by the appropriate annual rate of salary divided by 910 for each hour worked.
Any decrease at any time during the school year in the number of teaching hours allocated to a regular part-time fixed-term teacher must be notified to the Department’s Primary Teachers Payroll Section immediately and in writing. This is in order to avoid any overpayment of salary to the teacher.
If the number of teaching hours allocated to a part-time fixed-term teacher decreases during the school year the adjusted number of hours must be recorded on the OLCS system immediately. This is in order to avoid any overpayment of salary to the teacher.
How is a part-time teacher paid?
The arrangements for the payment of part-time and whole-time fixed term registered teachers for the 2010/11 school year and subsequent years are outlined in Circular 0061/2010 (pdf)
Page updated 25 July 2024
