THE TEACHERS' Union of Ireland (TUI) last night said the campaign against the Government's education cutbacks, announced in the Budget, would intensify in the days and weeks ahead.
The union yesterday met Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe to express its concern at the cutbacks and to urge him to reverse them.
The union, which represents over 13,000 members at second and third level, described the meeting as "constructive".
The Minister is to hold talks with a number of unions and education bodies this week.
A spokesman for the Minister said that the purpose of the meetings was "to engage with the bodies on the basis of constructive dialogue and in the interests of delivering the best possible education for the nation's children".
Speaking last night, the union's general secretary, Peter MacMenamin, said it had asked the Minister to return to the Cabinet and "secure the resources necessary to reverse those cutbacks that affect the most vulnerable students and families in Ireland".
"We have made it clear to the Minister that we are still appalled by what we see as an anti-disadvantaged slant of this Budget.
"For example, the ceiling on the number of language support teachers for minority ethnic students will have a devastating effect on the educational prospects of that particular cohort," he said.
He added that the union was concerned that cuts to a number of student retention programmes would result in a stark rise in student drop-out.
"Our campaign as part of the Post Primary Education Forum with the ASTI and parent and management groups will intensify in the coming days and weeks.
"We will also be taking part in the massive demonstration with partners from all sectors of Irish education planned for December 6th," he said.
