Delegates at the yearly Teachers Union of Ireland meeting in Killarney were informed that the inadequate school inspection system is detrimental to good teachers. Gerry Quinn of Laois argued during a discussion about inspection reform, stating that the self-esteem and respect of his peers had been affected negatively due to poor or insufficient inspections. “I’ve witnessed exceptional teachers, heads of their subject areas, being belittled and their credibility harmed and unfortunately, the people inspecting were incorrect,” he asserted.
He acknowledged the legally required element of the process and agreed that teachers must be held accountable. However, he stated that what’s required and what they’re advocating for is a fair inspection system that does not lead to unexpected negative outcomes. “If we need a rallying cry for this motion, then think about Ofsted and the disastrous effects its efforts have caused for our fellow teachers,” he continued, referencing the UK’s inspection body, Ofsted, which has been under heavy criticism following the suicide of a headteacher, Ruth Perry, after the grading of her school was lowered the previous year.
Quinn stated that in Ireland, “a considerable number of teachers are being negatively affected by inadequate inspections and it needs to be put to an end.” The conference listened to accounts of highly skilled and revered teachers broken down to tears and public humiliation due to a flawed process. This method disregarded thorough lesson plans or results and offered a skewed impression of the individual’s work.
However, Dublin representative Owen Morris contended the motion, suggesting that a revamp of the existing system could possibly result in something similar to Ofsted. Quinn countered, declaring that the union wouldn’t initiate any campaign if it were likely to result in “something worse than what we have. Reform implies an improvement and we demand a complete overhaul of this system.”
The motion was approved, along with another that underscored declining levels of respect from employers towards traditionally democratic and cooperative education work environments.
Supporting a proposal to reintroduce high pension benefits that erstwhile recruits were stripped of during the financial crunch, Mr Morris of Tallaght Community School voiced his displeasure at the gross unfairness of the current pension scheme. With the older scheme potentially yielding him an annual income of €40,000, it irked him that his younger counterparts with a similar service record could expect a mere €25,000 upon retirement. Subtract the €14,000 social welfare element and the remainder, he observed, was an insufficient sum for a lifetime of teaching. He opined that it was unjust that he could comfortably subsist off his pension while those younger would find themselves necessitated to seek employment even in their mid-sixties.
One of these younger colleagues, Karen Gernon from Holy Family, Rathcoole, currently finds herself in a predicament, earnestly trying to secure a property to avoid paying rent post-retirement. However, her dreams of homeownership seem distant due to her current financial constraints, primarily being steep rent expenses and a lacklustre pension.
Earlier in the week, the Minister for Education, Norma Foley, addressing the conference, shared the news of a €1 million fund directed towards mental health support initiatives for post-secondary students, parents and educators. While appreciative of the step, the union representatives pointed out that the provision was far from satisfactory.
The union pointed to a recent survey showing that 91% of instructors felt that the hurdles encountered by youth have surged in the past half-decade. They concluded their remarks lamenting that due to paltry financial support since the 2009 cuts, students most in need have borne the brunt.