1,200 new second level teachers 'vital'

THE Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) has warned that at least 1,200 new teachers need to be employed at second level within the next five years or classroom overcrowding will reach an emergency state.

Statistics show there will be a sharp increase in the number of students attending second level schools, beginning in about five years' time. A 20% increase in the number of students in the next 15 years will mean that, by the year 2020/'21, the second level population will be over 400,000 an increase of 60,000.

"This may seem like a long time away, but the reality is that provision has not been made for our changing demographics," TUI general secretary Jim Dorney warned yesterday.

Now was the time to plan for these developments by adjusting class size, adapting buildings, and most importantly, hiring 1,200 new teachers to deal with the projected increase.

"Classes at primary and second level are already overcrowded. If this is not remedied in the near future, we will be ill-equipped to deal with increased numbers later on," said Mr Dorney.

The number of students attending second level is likely to stay static for the next five years, followed by a swift rise in the subsequent years. Mr Dorney said the Government has an opportunity to lower the maximum permissible class sizes in most schools, particularly in those categorised as disadvantaged.

Meanwhile, the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) is expected to call upon the Government to enforce their right to work in schools without facing abuse and disruption from students.

Teachers are to vote for action to ensure their right to teach and the majority of students to learn "free from disruption, intimidation and abuse" is enshrined in legislation.

"The level of continuous disruption in the classroom is increasing," a spokeswoman for the ASTI said.

"The legislation, including the Education Act, tends to focus on the rights of all students to learn without acknowledging that some can be impeding other students." However, the ASTI acknowledged that legislation was not necessarily the answer and that one of the best ways would be simply reducing class size.

The issue of negative student behaviour and its adverse effects on the learning environment of all pupils will be one of the key topics for the annual convention which begins tomorrow.

The organisation said there were all sorts of reasons behind the increase in adverse behaviour including societal changes, a different attitude to authority and a shortage of funding.