Outgoing president challenges Minister's record

ASTI: In a spirited address to to the 84th annual conference of the ASTI, the outgoing president Shiela Parsons asked Minister for Education Mary Hanafin if an election was the only way that Ireland's education system could get the support it deserves.

Ms Hanafin rose to an audience only just back in their seats after a standing ovation for Ms Parsons.

The delegates broke into applause as Ms Parsons claimed that it was "time to stop churlish attacks" on teachers who, she said, were carrying the struggling education system on their backs.

She called the Minister to account for her performance on everything from special needs resources to student behaviour.

Delegates were united in their support for her direct approach.

Ms Hanafin followed Ms Parson's address by acknowledging that teachers had "fuelled our economic success" and went on to detail the supports that she had implemented for teachers over the last year.

Delegates booed when the Minister asserted that teachers were respected in society.

She replied to the heckling with: "If you don't think that you merit it, you won't get it."

She pointed to the delivery of the report on the task force on student behaviour, which was the focus of a great deal of criticism at yesterday's opening session.

Many delegates had criticised the Minister's proposed pilot programme to tackle disruptive students, claiming that indiscipline was a system-wide problem and that particular schools should be marked out as failing.

"Recruitment has already commenced for a new behavioural support service which will be structured in four regional teams," Ms Hanafin told delegates.

"The team will work with about 50 schools in the first year, helping them to identify the causes of their difficulties and put in place effective procedures to deal with it.

"Schools will be invited to put themselves forward for access to the service," she continued.

"This is not about labelling schools, but supporting them."

She acknowledged that lack of student discipline was an issue in all schools.

While advising schools to take a holistic approach to discipline, Ms Hanafin told schools not to tolerate "the kind of misbehaviour that makes it impossible for other students to learn".

The Minister went on to outline the role of the newly established teaching council in cases where teachers were underperforming, and she discussed the Employee Assistance Service.

The publication of Whole School Evaluation reports, due to begin next month, is a positive development for schools, Ms Hanafin said.

"It is precisely because I believe there is so much good news to tell that I have decided to publish Whole School Evaluation reports," she added.

The Minister also reiterated her opposition to proposals to abandon compulsory Irish for the Leaving Certificate.