WIDESPREAD DISRUPTION in second-level schools over substitution cover has been averted after a compromise deal between Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe and school managers.
The Minister has agreed to row back on some budget cutbacks of substitution cover after school managers agreed to €16 million in savings.
The move comes ahead of tomorrow's protest march against the education cutbacks, expected to attract more than 40,000 teachers, parents and other protesters.
Under the deal, the Minister has agreed to make an additional €2.7 million available to schools until next June to offset the budget cuts in teacher substitution cover for uncertified sick leave and for teachers on official school business.
A further €2.3 million is expected to be allocated to schools to cover the period between September and the end of next year after a review of substitution cover.
Irish National Teachers' Organisation general secretary John Carr said the compromise was the "first acknowledgement by the Minister of the chaos his budget cutbacks would cause". However, the Minister's spokesman stressed that " very significant savings'' had been achieved. He said the deal was an example of the Minister working constructively with the education partners.
The march marks the culmination of a month-long campaign against the education cuts which increased class size and cut funding for a range of groups including disadvantaged pupils and newcomer children. Already more than 35,000 people have attended marches in Cork, Donegal, Tullamore and Galway.
The deal on substitution means the prospect of children being sent home and second-level schools closing next month has receded. It also lifts the threat to school sports and other extra curricular activities. The agreement puts the onus on the Minister and primary school managers to agree a similar compromise deal. With the Minister seeking savings of just €7 million in substitution costs at primary level, there was confidence last night a compromise was possible before primary schools reopen after the Christmas break.
The agreement replaces the old system of open-ended substitution cover with a new block grant regime.
This will give schools the discretion to decide on how funds covering uncertified sick leave and official
school business should be spent. Unions say only about 20 days a year will be available to each school.
Last night, Mr O'Keeffe said the new system will provide each school with a limited number of hours of substitution cover outside of the supervision and substitution scheme.
The general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body for Secondary Schools, Ferdia Kelly, welcomed the deal. Teachers' Union of Ireland general secretary Peter MacMenamin said the deal did not go far enough. "Unless provision for paid substitute cover is increased further, this amendment will only act as a light plaster over a gaping flesh wound in our education system."