Religious-run schools failing disadvantaged, says TUI leader

TUI: The Teachers' Union of Ireland has criticised schools run by religious authorities for refusing to accept their fair share…

TUI: The Teachers' Union of Ireland has criticised schools run by religious authorities for refusing to accept their fair share of disadvantaged and disabled students, writes Alison Healy in Tralee

TUI president Paddy Healy said some commentators believed that this practice was only happening in fee-paying schools. "We all know better than that. It's happening in local schools and everybody knows it. The Minister [ for Education] knows it and I thank her for drawing attention to it," he said.

"Now, most of these schools, as you know, are run by religious authorities and if they don't heed the injunction of the Almighty in relation to how they approach the disadvantaged and people with difficulties, then are they going to listen to the TUI or the Minister for Education?"

Mr Healy called on Ms Hanafin to introduce legislation that would force all schools getting public funds to accept an equitable share of students with special needs and learning disabilities. Mr Healy said Ms Hanafin told the TUI that it was very difficult to legislate in that area, but he did not accept this.

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"Surely, surely, surely today it is totally indefensible that all sections in our community won't educate the needy, the disadvantaged, the disabled, the people with learning difficulties, all together in the one community. [ They are] sending them back down to our members again and again and again, heaping problem on top of problem. It is totally indefensible. It has got to stop," he said.

He was speaking at the opening of the TUI conference in Tralee yesterday. Ms Hanafin will address the 400 delegates today.

Mr Healy said the union had scored "a major victory" in highlighting the issue of discipline in schools but much remained to be done. He said teachers were facing into a "truly appalling" scenario every day and generations of teachers were being "worn out, burnt out, their heads damaged" trying to teach classes with a minority of disruptive students.

While he welcomed most of the recommendations of the Government's task force on student behaviour, he said he was "very, very disappointed" that the Minister had decided to restrict the establishment of the new behaviour-support classrooms to 36 schools in the first year.

Meanwhile, TUI general secretary Jim Dorney called on delegates to "meaningfully explore" the possibility of bringing the three teachers' unions together. "I cannot envisage in the longer term that the existence of three unions, each covering the same issues, is in anyone's interest," he said.

Mr Healy said the unity of the three unions would strengthen teachers but it must come from the bottom up and must grow out of common campaigns for students' rights, teachers' rights and Irish education.

However, executive committee member Margaret Duignan criticised Mr Dorney for acting in a "de Valera-esque" manner in purporting to read the minds of TUI members on their attitude to the issue.

Mr Dorney's comments on teacher unity were quoted in the media last week. Ms Duignan said the union view on the issue should come from its members after being discussed by ICTU.