Teacher unions trying to coordinate potential strike action over vaccine rollout change, says TUI
The conferences of the country’s three teacher trade unions start online today. By Adam Daly Tuesday 6 Apr 2021, 9:45 AM 1 hour ago 12,607 Views 78 Comments
Image: Shutterstock/Vyaseleva Elena
Updated 54 minutes ago
RECENT CHANGES TO the vaccine rollout plan are expected to feature heavily at the conferences of the country’s teachers trade unions starting today.
The decision to implement an age-based model of vaccine sequencing over one that prioritised groups like teachers and gardaí was met with anger from some representative groups last week.
The government says this will mean vaccines can be delivered faster over the next few months. However, the change essentially removes a ‘key workers’ cohort that had pl
Delegates deplored the lack of timely assessment and widespread unavailability to children such as needs assessments.
Eimear Mannion of the Loughrea branch, said many schools will need additional support, increased funding and immediate access to professional services, especially in light of the school closures and remote teaching.
Teachers also backed calls for a reduction in the size of primary school classes, to bring them into line with, or lower than, the EU average.
While a recent reduction in class size announced by Government will bring the average class size to 25 pupils, the union said there was still a way to go until I class sizes reach the EU average of 20 pupils per class.
Education Minister Norma Foley rules out U-turn over prioritising teachers for vaccines - this is simply the science
Unions told the deputy the decision was a sudden kick in the teeth
Minister for Education Norma Foley TD during a Cabinet meeting at Dublin Castle (Image: Collins)
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Heartening to see students signing up to sit exams
Updated / Tuesday, 6 Apr 2021
17:50
The President of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland has said it is heartening to hear that many students have signed up to sit Leaving Certificate exams so far.
Speaking at the ASTI Annual Convention Ann Piggott said her union are glad that a Leaving Cert is being held with second components.
She said they had continually asked for adaptations to exam papers to offer choice and reduce strain, stress, anxiety and workload for students in the Leaving Cert this year.
The changes made are helpful in doing so, she said, and should encourage students to sit exams.