Dempsey in school holiday talks

EDUCATION Minister Noel Dempsey met with teacher unions yesterday in an attempt to diffuse their fury over his plans to standardise school holidays. Mr Dempsey wants all schools to take the same holidays and mid-term breaks from next September.

“Haphazard times for holidays and mid-term breaks pose huge difficulties for parents,” the minister said. Parents’ groups have backed the proposals.

Barbara Johnston of the Congress of Catholic Secondary Schools Parents’ Associations said schools had been allowed set their own timetables for far too long.

Talks between the minister and the Irish National Teachers Organisation were adjourned at lunchtime yesterday and will reconvene on Tuesday.

INTO General Secretary John Carr described the comments as “inaccurate, and insulting to teachers”. The other unions are understood to be equally incensed.

Mr Carr also took issue with the minister’s allegation that requirements regarding the length of the school year were being widely ignored. “It is simply not true. Primary school children receive 183 school days teaching per year. Schools must close for July and August. These are requirements of the Department of Education and Science and are met by primary schools. They are not widely ignored,” he said.

Mr Dempsey wants a timetable in place for a standardised school year within a couple of weeks to allow school management notify parents for next year.

The standardisation of holidays and breaks will apply at primary and secondary level, though second-level colleges will continue to enjoy longer summer breaks.

The minister was also criticised for suggesting that payment of the benchmarking deal was dependant on a new school timetable being put in place.