Class sizes debate: Primary teachers yesterday reiterated their refusal to work in schools where unqualified personnel are in charge of classes from 2005. However they voted in favour of negotiation on the matter with the Department of Education and Science.
Ms Catherine Byrne, deputy general secretary of the INTO, said parents need to be aware that many young children are suffering educational damage because they are being taught by unqualified personnel. Calling for the immediate establishment of a forum on the acute teacher shortage, Ms Byrne said there is "a silent, creeping cutback taking place on staffing". She said there are 1,500 unqualified people teaching, and a combined total of some 1,500 leaving teacher training colleges every year. Of those, at least 1,000 are needed to replace teachers who retire, or who move on to specialities, thus leaving only 500 newly qualified teachers per year to alleviate the shortage, she said.
The shortage is set to grow, as the birthrate rose by 4,000 annually between 1998 and 2001, she continued. These children will be entering school in 2005, and will require an additional 200 new teachers per year if the Government is to meet its target of a maximum class size of 20 in junior infants classes by 2005.
Ms Byrne would like to see accelerated, modular training courses. People with degrees could not afford to train full-time as teachers and needed courses tailored for them. Teachers trained in Northern Ireland should be offered an accelerated Irish qualification, she added.
Many graduates with law degrees, amongst other things, would like to become teachers but cannot afford to study full-time, said Ms Noirín Flynn, of the central executive committee. Within 18 months they could be trained if a system were created that enabled them to earn a living while studying, she commented.
Mr Joe Lyons, Limerick, urged parents to demand that every child be taught by a qualified teacher for every day of his or her school life. "Charles Haughey gave every child in the country a toothbrush. It's time to give them a teacher," he said.
Mr Christy Carroll, Clonmel, said "as long as we continue to work beside people with no qualification to teach - who possess nothing more than honours Irish in their Leaving Cert, we cannot call ourselves professionals."