TEACHERS' UNION ASTI has published a six-point strategy to address what it calls the funding "crisis" and other issues in Irish education ahead of the Easter teacher conferences.
Citing inadequate funding in the sector, the union cites the fact that the Republic is joint last out of 29 OECD countries in terms of spending on each second-level student relative to the country's economic wealth per capita. The proportion of GDP invested in education has fallen from 5.2 per cent in 1995 to 4.6 per cent in 2005.
The union is seeking more language support teachers in schools to meet the needs of foreign national students. At present, newcomer students get two hours of English lessons per week. The union says these students should get a full-time course in English.
John White, ASTI's general secretary , predicted the Minister for Education would be warmly received by delegates despite controversy about inadequate funding levels. The Minister, he said, had a empathy with teachers.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Education last night said it was supporting and providing for 2,000 langauge support teachers who focus on providing language training for newcomers to the Irish education system at a cost of €120 million. Ms Hanafin believes integration is an important feature of our school system, she added.Reductions in class size, especially in core subjects;
Implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force on the Physical Sciences;
The appointment of special needs co-ordinators in all schools;
Tougher sanctions on school discipline;
New moves to foster inclusive schools by the provision of adequate educational psychologists, guidance counsellors and home-school community liaison teachers;
Increased capitation grants and budgets for second-level schools.