Cuts creating two-tier teachers system

Speaking after a presentation to the Oireachtas Education Committee made on behalf of representatives’ for new entrants to the Teaching Profession, Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson Seán Crowe said: “The targeting since 2011 of new entrants to the teaching professions has led to growing anger and disillusionment.

“Budget 2012 imposed a cap on qualification allowances payable to new entrants and from February all qualification allowances were suspended pending the outcome of the public-sector wide review.

“A teacher on Grade One will earn €27,814 which means new entrants to teaching are expected to fulfil the same role for €11,381 less than their colleagues who were recruited prior to January 2011. When we consider that even the most conservative estimates show that 25 to 30 per cent of teachers are on part-time contracts then the difficulties become even more pronounced.

“Of particular concern is the suspension of allowances to newly qualified teachers and it is a measure that will place at risk the Government’s efforts to ensure excellence through partnership and equality in our education system.

“Not only are these cuts to allowances unfair to the cohort of new teachers, they are demoralising and demeaning. The goodwill that is needed within a school’s teaching environment is likely to be eroded and it will be the children who will be denied the education they are entitled too.

“Another worry is that newly qualified teachers leave these shores in increasing numbers for a better wage. The millions spent on training the next generation of educationalists will have been wasted and the quality of learning will be greatly reduced.”