More than 400 teachers will receive cheques this month, following the implementation of a scheme to provide funding for course and examination fees.

The 435 teachers who benefited "will welcome the payment of the assistance", says John White, deputy general secretary of the ASTI; he represents the three teacher unions on a committee which is monitoring implementation of the scheme. However, he says, "there are still some anomalies within the scheme and it is hoped that this can be rectified".

A report on the operation of the scheme, which is for payment of fees to primary and post-primary teachers who have successfully completed in-career development courses approved by the Department, is currently being prepared and will be approved at a meeting of the monitoring committee on Wednesday, June 2nd.

The committee, which comprises representatives from school management, the Department and the teacher unions, considers applicants for grants under the scheme, which was set up under the PCW with an allocated budget of £100,000 per year to teachers for course and examination fees. The monitoring committee in considering applications for grants under the scheme has almost completed its work for 1997 and 1998. The total amount claimed for 1997 was £159,305 with each qualifying applicant receiving approximately 60 per cent of his or her claim. The total amount claimed for 1998 was £370,296, with each qualifying applicant receiving approximately 27 per cent of the claim. The percentage awarded to teachers in 1998 is much lower because there were significantly more applicants in the second year of the scheme and thus greater amounts claimed in 1998.

It is believed that a further 100 teachers applied but were unsuccessful in their applications having failed to satisfy the qualifying criteria. Applications for payment are considered where the total fees including examination fees concerned for an applicant in any one year amount to £500 or more.

Cheques were issued to all of the approved claimants early in May. In accordance with the scheme, there are approximately 15 appeals to the Minister. This has meant withholding a sum of money from the £100,000 for each year to deal with any successful appeals.