The Department of Education has strongly rejected claims by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) that more than 3,500 second-level teachers are set to lose their posts on the basis of new figures.
It stressed that new figures used by the TUI are provisional and subject to adjustment on the basis of appeals from schools.
The union said the figures for 2009-10 staffing levels – published on the department’s website – indicate that the scale of job losses will be “shocking and absolutely devastating to the prospects of our young people”.
Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe has previously claimed that the increase in class size, unveiled in the budget, will see the loss of 240 teaching posts at second level.
But the department’s own calculations signal that the impact may be much more severe on schools and pupils.
Last night it said the figures “excludes the bulk of the allocations for special needs or language support etc., which are processed during the summer and autumn period. The final position will not be clear until the final months of 2009. It is only then that a valid comparison can be made between teacher allocations for the coming school year and the current school year.’’
But the department did concede that the new measures “could, over time, reduce the number of teaching posts by 1,000 over a number of years’’.
Last night, key education sources conceded that the scale of job losses could be much greater than anticipated – based on the department’s provisional figures.
The cutback in teacher numbers comes as enrolment figures at second level increase by more than 3,000 per year.
The job losses will be among teaching staff who are temporary and on contract. Full-time teachers with permanent pensionable posts will not be affected.
The TUI says the department’s figures indicate there will be more than 3,586 fewer teachers in the system in second level in 2009-10 compared with 2008-09.
TUI general secretary Peter McMenamin said: “These new figures are nothing short of shocking. It represents a vicious attack on our education system and on the very future of our country.”
He said there will be more than 3,500 fewer teachers in the system next year due to the various cutbacks and revised allocations implemented by the Department of Education and Science.
He said his union has sought guidance on teaching numbers from the department, “only to be met with a stony silence”.
Mr McMenamin continued: “Now the information has been buried on their website in what can only be described as an utterly cynical exercise.’’
The cutback in teacher numbers will see severe restrictions in the choice of subjects available to students.
The TUI says it will also make it increasingly difficult to support those students on the margins and, as a result, student drop-out will spiral.
Last night, Michael Moriarty of the Irish Vocational Education Association said the vocational sector faced a 13 per cent fall in teacher numbers – on the basis of the department’s provisional figures.
“We are facing into a hugely challenging time for vocational schools, where there are significant numbers of students with special needs and non-national students.’’
The recent McCarthy report proposed a further cut in class size at both primary and second level. It also proposed cuts in teacher allowances for supervision and substitution.
Possible job losses
The following is a sample of the teaching posts that could be lost in September. The first figure gives the teacher allocations for 2008/09; the second the initial allocation for 2009/10
Arklow CBS 17.04/13.73 (potential loss of four posts)
Laurel Hill, Limerick 37.55/34.09(3)
Muckcross, Donnybrook, Dublin 42.28/39.85 (3)
Holy Faith, Clontarf, Dublin 38.92/ 36.01 (2)
Belvedere College Dublin 56.9/49.85 (7)
Kilkenny College 53.0/45.69 (8)
St Gerards Bray, Co Wicklow 27.37/23.8 (4)
The Teresian School, Stillorgan, Dublin 12.36/ 10.4 (2)
Maryfield College, Drumcondra, Dublin 42.18/ 37.27 (5)
Wesley College, Dublin 56.95/ 48.34( 8)
Loreto Fermoy, Co Cork 43.93/38.3 (5)
Alexandra College 38.76/34.77 (4)
St Leo’s, Carlow 68.24/57.55 (11)
