O'Keeffe in partial climbdown over substitute teachers' pay
Threatened chaos in schools next month has been averted by a partial climbdown by Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe over paying substitute teachers.
The minister insisted last night it was not a U-turn but represented a "fair and balanced decision" taken after "constructive suggestions" from the education partners.
The rowback follows a series of U-turns by the Government, who are still reeling from the medical card fiasco and controversy over the disability allowance and the income levy.
It comes just before the biggest protest to date over the education cuts when more than 30,000 people are expected to march in Dublin tomorrow.
The change follows behind-the-scenes contacts between the department and secondary school managers who had warned of very serious consequences if the original decision to ban substitution for teachers on uncertified sick leave or on official school business were implemented.
The original decision would have saved €21m but would almost certainly have resulted in schools being closed or pupils sent home and the collapse of many out-of-school activities.
Mr O'Keeffe said he intended replacing the existing 'demand-led' availability of cover for uncertified sick leave and official school business with an allocated or budgeted scheme costing €5m per year.
He said he is making available €2.7m to second-level schools for the remainder of the school year. This will provide each school with a limited number of hours of cover outside of the regular supervision and substitution scheme.
The minister said he intends that there will be a full review of the substitution and supervision scheme in conjunction with the school management bodies and teacher unions with a view to making up this additional €2.7m.
The minister added that he would also be open to similar constructive suggestions from primary school management bodies. At present, 40,800 teachers opt to do 37 hours of supervision and substitution per year for which they get an additional allowance of €1,789.
The Irish Independent understands that more emphasis will be placed on the substitution aspect in future. Also, teachers who have free classes when students are out on school business will be under pressure to substitute for absent colleagues.
The minister's announcement was welcomed last night by the second-level school management bodies and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals.
But it got a more muted response from the Teachers Union of Ireland, whose general secretary, Peter MacMenamin, said it might "keep second-level schools open in some circumstances".
"However, we do not believe it goes far enough to alleviate the problems caused by the absence of teachers on legitimate school business," he added. "Unless provision for paid substitute cover is increa- sed further, this amendment will only act as a light plaster over a gaping flesh wound in our education system."
Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes said the rowback on substitute teaching will still leave a massive black hole for schools.
- John Walshe and Patricia McDonagh
