Teachers strike for places on board

STRIKING teachers at St Joseph’s Detention School in Clonmel fear the education rights of their pupils are not being protected because of the school’s management structure.

The 12 teaching staff at the school, catering for young offenders and children sent there by the courts, are seeking representation on the board of management. The 13-member board includes representatives of the ministers for education, health and justice, but has only two staff representatives, neither of whom are teachers.

Tony Kearins, the staff’s union representative, said teachers need to be represented on the board, particularly when it comes to deciding on issues of policy and procedures.