New department of education primary school mandates

fox65

I was talking to a friend last night and she was telling me about the new mandates or circulars coming from the dept of ed.

I wanted to see if i understand this right

Basically temp contracts or fixed term contracts in schools can now only come from the redeployment panel.

To get on the panel, you need 3 years non subbing teaching experience.

The only way to get the 3 years experience is to have 3 years non subbing experience

So is this correct, if i were a teacher without the necessary 3 years experience there is no way i can accrue this experience as i am not allowed apply for temp of fixed contracts. And these are the only things that count towards panel experience.

This seems to lock young teachers out and also stops non qualified teachers from doing their dip.

Is this correct?

laurarachel

Hi Fox65,

As far as i understand it, the panel - permanent teachers who are losing their current posts (many through cutbacks to jobs which were designed to support traveller children and those who are learning english as a second language) must be offered any permanent jobs coming up. There will not be enough permanent jobs in the system to absorb all of these teachers this year, so they must be offered temporary jobs in order to keep them in employment. Schools are not permitted to offer temporary jobs to teachers who are not on the panel, until the panel has been cleared. There is lots of information on the INTO website, which will inform you of all the details, but there simply will not be enough permanent jobs this year to absorb all of the teachers who may have accrued panel rights. (This may not be the case in all dioceses, however). When the 'main' panel has been cleared there should will still be temporary jobs available and subbing is not affected so younger teachers will still be able to clock up service.

laurarachel

Just to add that subbing can be counted towards panel rights, as far as i know, but there will be difficulties with trying to complete a diploma unless some longer periods of subbing are completed (such as filling in for someone on maternity leave).

fox65

I don't understand re permenent jobs as with the current embargo permenent jobs dont come into it. Even if subbing counts which i read somewhere that it currently doesn't towards the panel. It would take well in excess of 3 years (calander years) to get 3 years teaching experience. And you only have a 5 year period to do your dip year.They are trying to patch a problem which will create a bigger problem. They reduced class sizes and removed, as you said, jobs which were designed to support traveller children and those who are learning english as a second language. This created 1200 teachers redundancies.To "fix" this. They are saying only 3 year teachers can be the only ones to get any temp places.Last year panels cleared very late and some weren't clear. So an extra 1200 ontop of this will mean it is possible if likely that panels will not clear. This is leaving NQT (non qualified teachers) between a rock and a hard place.

laurarachel

The 'permanent' jobs will arise from teachers currently holding permanent posts retiring etc. Not much consolation to younger teachers as the jobs will be immediately reabsorbed by teachers on the panel, i know, but then, remaining temporary jobs are open to anyone. Subbing jobs are not 'held' for tha panel, so are open to all teachers immediately. I'm not condoning the circular by any means, just pointing out that newly qualified teachers, while at a disadvantage, can apply for temporary and all other jobs eventually and they can then work their way towards panel rights which is a great advantage that other professions don't have.

There is of course a huge issue of oversupply for an inadequate number of jobs, which will have to be addressed by reducing the number of teachers being trained over the next few years, among other measures. The department will obviously have to reconsider the time limit on doing the dip also, if it is not possible for teachers to complete it in the time required.

peanuthead

Sorry to be jumping on the bandwagon now, but I'm just wondering one or two things about this myself.

Is this exclusive to the primary teaching sector or is this something that is going to affect secondary teachers too?

I am in a school, this is my first year out of PGDE so I am a NQT - will have done my 300 hours by now though so NQT status is lifted. I have 4 previous years exp. teaching including my PGDE year.

The school I'm in now I am filling a position that was permanent (previous teacher took permanency with him so I'm not looking for that.) I'm on a PRPT contract - I know I always have been at risk of not being asked back, thus is the nature of the PRPT contract, but I'm just wondering if I am at any more risk now than I was before this all came about?

laurarachel

hi peanuthead,
Sorry, i don't really know anything about the situation in secondary schools at all. i know the INTO has attempted to clarify some of the issues on their website, so I'm sure the secondary teachers unions have too. The 'educationposts.ie' website has lots of discussion too, think they must have a section for secondary teachers too.
Best of luck with your situation. The uncertainty is very hard on everyone.