Grin and bear the cuts, says O'Keeffe
TEACHERS were told yesterday by Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe he was not in a position to reverse education cuts and that they should "grin and bear it".
About 30 delegates walked out of the ASTI convention in Killarney when Mr O'Keeffe rose to speak and the remainder sat in silence.
By contrast, union president Pat Hurley was loudly applauded several times during his address which listed the effects of the education cuts.
Mr Hurley said the increase in the pupil-teacher ratio would take 1,000 committed teachers away from students.
"It will mean larger classes and reduced subject choice. There is a myth in existence that all teachers are permanent and pensionable. This is not true," he added.
Gretta Harrisson from Mayo claimed that parents were being lied to and were not getting information, with principals downplaying the effects of the cuts.
Frank Killilea, of Desmond branch, said the minister believed he had not been affected by being in too large a class when he was in primary school.
"How sad. The minister is in denial. Our minister knows so little about his brief and the importance of a well-educated, high-tech workforce to the future economic recovery that it really goes to show he has been severely damaged by being in a class of 50".
- John Walshe Education Editor
