Can anything be done with tutors who are unable to do their job properly?

Bally8

I work in second chance education where we deliver a FETAC programme. I am a tutor and also the FETAC Co-Ordinator for our centre. These past few weeks have been very busy and stressful getting everything ready for assessment but thats fine as its part of my job. However we have one tutor in particular who seems to think it's not her job to do any of the paperwork surrounding the examination process. Even worse she doesnt believe in helping the students sort out their work or find out what is missing or in helping them finish the work. At the end of it all she hands me a few folders and says 'here all finished'. When I went through them they were far from finished and the completed ones were missing her paperwork. In the end 7 out of 17 portfolios were presented today for examination. This is after me spending hours sorting them out and having to drive to meet her after work to get her to sign them.

The centre Co-Ordinator was well able to give out about her behind her back but says that as the tutor has a CID nothing can be done about her inability to deliver results for her students (this happens every year). More than one student missed out on a full cert because there were missing her modules. Its so unfair on them and I think its unfair on me as I have to pick up her slack.

So apart from me ranting here, I am just wondering is there anything that can be done about tutors/teachers who do not do their job properly and leave their colleagues picking up the pieces? Is a CID a license to do nothing?

implausible

I would be inclined to leave her students' work as is and allow the external examiner to pick up on inconsistencies and incomplete work, even though I'm sure you are worried for yours and your centre's reputation and would be loath to take such an action. Would the extern's report ring any bells in FETAC? Surely if a centre is failing to deliver on its quality assurance, some action would be taken. She may have a CID, but can be redeployed. Maybe this is a threat that could be used.

Art Teacher

I would suggest that you instruct the the teacher as to what you/fetac require. The teacher probably doesn't know exactly what you/fetac want.

rainbowtrout

Art Teacher wrote: »

I would suggest that you instruct the the teacher as to what you/fetac require. The teacher probably doesn't know exactly what you/fetac want.

I suspect that if the teacher is on a CID they've been there long to enough to know what the job entails. It's not good enough that they can't be bothered to finish the job and students don't get a cert as a result. Now if the student does pass a subject because they don't submit coursework, don't do well enough in an exam that's one thing, but if a student submits all their coursework and doesn't get a cert because the teacher can't be bothered to correct it, then the student has a case.

The other side of all this is that a teacher is obliged to teach FETAC if it is put on their timetable but is not obliged to correct it if I'm not mistaken. We submit forms for payment each year to our VEC for correcting the portfolios.

Bally8

deemark wrote: »

I would be inclined to leave her students' work as is and allow the external examiner to pick up on inconsistencies and incomplete work, even though I'm sure you are worried for yours and your centre's reputation and would be loath to take such an action. Would the extern's report ring any bells in FETAC? Surely if a centre is failing to deliver on its quality assurance, some action would be taken. She may have a CID, but can be redeployed. Maybe this is a threat that could be used.

Our external authenticator came yesterday and I had most of her students work sorted so he didnt get to see the mess. I did indicate on the Internal Verification report that I had to withdraw several portfolios but he didnt comment on that at all. Our centre prides itself on how good our assessment system is so it would be awful if FETAC were flagged about us because of one tutor. But you are right. Next assessment period I will not do anything with her work. I will just hand it back or show the extern and let him/FETAC sort it out.

Bally8

Art Teacher wrote: »

I would suggest that you instruct the the teacher as to what you/fetac require. The teacher probably doesn't know exactly what you/fetac want.

I wish it was that easy Art Teacher. As Rainbowtrout says this tutor has been working for us for 13 years. She has been to many training days on what is expected of her and I talk about it at every staff meeting. I also give each tutor written instructions in the weeks leading up to assessment periods which tells them step by step what they have to do. Im not sure what else I can do to get her to do her job.

Bally8

rainbowtrout wrote: »

Now if the student does pass a subject because they don't submit coursework, don't do well enough in an exam that's one thing, but if a student submits all their coursework and doesn't get a cert because the teacher can't be bothered to correct it, then the student has a case.

This is actually the case. For one student in particular I felt that if I was her I would try to sue our centre as she had done all the work. Had received Distinctions in 7 modules and just because this tutor didnt correct her work she wouldn't get her full cert. The Co-Ordinator and I had to scramble furiously to sort it out for her. Luckily everything got through ok in the end and she will get her full cert- no thanks to her tutor!

The other side of all this is that a teacher is obliged to teach FETAC if it is put on their timetable but is not obliged to correct it if I'm not mistaken. We submit forms for payment each year to our VEC for correcting the portfolios.

Wow I never heard of this. We dont get paid anything extra which is very annoying for all of us. What VEC are you with can I ask?

Art Teacher

It didn't know the full story - It sounds like this teacher deserves to get a kick in the ass.
I haven't taught FETAC for years - 2006 but I understood that the teacher has to assess and give a grade. The external then checks over this. I never got paid anything extra.

Further Ed.

Re getting paid for LDM check out the DOES website and the following link http://www.education.ie/home/home.jsp?pcategory=10815&ecategory=39110&language=EN

Payment is only for full-time Level 5 & 6 courses.

Re appeals etc students may appeal both the result and process of the assessment ie if there didn't get a detailed brief or sufficient time between the issuing of an assessment and its submission.

rainbowtrout

Bally8 wrote: »

This is actually the case. For one student in particular I felt that if I was her I would try to sue our centre as she had done all the work. Had received Distinctions in 7 modules and just because this tutor didnt correct her work she wouldn't get her full cert. The Co-Ordinator and I had to scramble furiously to sort it out for her. Luckily everything got through ok in the end and she will get her full cert- no thanks to her tutor!



Wow I never heard of this. We dont get paid anything extra which is very annoying for all of us. What VEC are you with can I ask?

I know you said you are the FETAC Co-ordinator Bally8, but I assume the Centre Co-ordinator is your superior. Why don't they do something about this?

I've sent you a PM about payment. It's not that I don't want to discuss it here, but it mightn't be the best to put payment rates up here etc.

EDIT: The payment rates are at the bottom of the page that Further Ed has linked.

implausible

rainbowtrout wrote: »

I've sent you a PM about payment. It's not that I don't want to discuss it here, but it mightn't be the best to put payment rates up here etc.

In fairness, the rates are more likely to inspire ridicule than abuse....:rolleyes:

rainbowtrout

deemark wrote: »

In fairness, the rates are more likely to inspire ridicule than abuse....:rolleyes:

But like most things with teaching, people only look at the surface details....

Bally8

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I actually didnt go into work yesterday as I was so stressed and mad because of having to fix everything for that tutor. My centre co-ordinator has realised how serious I am about it and we are going to talk on Monday about a solution. At this point I could live with her just talking to the tutor in question and telling her to buck up instead of the situation now where its ignored and we have to carry on as normal.

As for payment for marking I am embarrassed to say that I knew nothing about it. As a centre that delivers Level 3 and 4 only it doesnt apply to us at the moment but a lot of my colleagues across the VEC deliver level 5 and 6 and those I've asked so far didn't know of the payment either. We had our countywide results approval panel meeting next Tuesday and I will bring it up there.

Thanks again