Teacher unions to table motion over vaccine roll-out rte.ie - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rte.ie Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Education Minister Norma Foley is under pressure to deliver a U-turn on teacher Covid vaccinations today – or face possible strike action in schools within weeks.
The annual conferences of the country s three teacher trade unions begin online this morning.
Debate at the Irish National Teachers Organisation, Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland and Teachers Union of Ireland congresses looks set to be dominated by reaction to last week’s Government decision to change the Covid-19 vaccine rollout from an occupation-based schedule to one based on age.
Emergency motions on the issue are expected to be tabled for discussion tomorrow at all three gatherings.
Over the weekend the unions - whose leaderships favour a united approach to the issue - were exploring whether a joint motion could be agreed. However, as yet to decision has been reached on this.
Teachers believe remote learning has led some students to disengage Extra supports will be needed next year to assist vulnerable students, survey finds
Tue, Apr 6, 2021, 01:00
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More than 90 per cent of secondary school teachers say some students have disengaged as a result of the move to remote teaching and learning, according to a new survey.
The findings are contained in a poll of more than 1,000 Teachers’ Union of Ireland members, which was carried out last month.
The survey indicates the vast majority of teachers (76 per cent) believe remote learning had a disproportionately negative effect on students from disadvantaged backgrounds, while a similar proportion believe additional supports are needed for 2021-2022 to assist those students who have lost out most.
Itâs a dark, miserable night. Youâve been teaching all day, you came home to mark your studentsâ work, help your own children with their homework, cook dinner, tidy up and get ready for the next day. And now thereâs a union meeting over an hourâs drive away where youâd be discussing standing orders and arguing about all the problems at work? Itâs understandable that many teachers will take a hard pass.
Since the Covid crisis began last year, however, those in-person meetings have all moved online â and all three unions say attendance and engagement is up significantly, with some branches have reported a fivefold increase in the numbers showing up.