LEADERS of the secondary teachers' unions are to meet management today to discuss an improved offer for their 20,000 members. If it is accepted, a further 21,000 primary teachers will also benefit.
The new proposals will increase the overall value of the teachers' offer under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work to more than £70 million.
However, it is unclear if negotiations can be concluded this week, and any offer will still have to go to ballot among members of the unions involved, the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland, and the Teachers' Union of Ireland.
The biggest concession in the new offer is expected to be the removal of the demand by the Department of Education that teachers work an extra 15 hours a year on non academic duties.
Instead, negotiations will take place at local level between unions and management on the level of extra cover required to deal with activities such as parent teacher meetings, games and staff meetings.
The number of early retirement posts is to be increased from 300 to 400. There will be improved procedures for dealing with early retirement and pension applications. Any extra early retirements will have to be shared on a 50-50 basis with primary teachers.
Several hundred extra permanent posts are expected to be offered to part time and temporary teachers.