Parents warned of unions’ power over education

UNIONS and civil servants hold too much control over the education system, the head of the country’s vocational sector warned parents over the weekend.

Irish Vocational Education Association general secretary Michael Moriarty said teachers organisations and the Department of Education should share control of the system with parents groups and management bodies.

“The department controls the purse strings, the school building programme, the quality and control of education services. The teacher unions, for their part, have the ability to command action and reaction by legal industrial relations disputes,” he said.

Mr Moriarty was addressing the annual conference of the National Congress of Catholic Secondary Schools Parent Association (CSPA) in Kilkenny on Saturday.

“The rest of us must exert influence, often in the face of resistance from one or other of the main players,” he said.

“To achieve meaningful partnership and participation then these giant entities must be prepared to share knowledge and influence in a meaningful and constructive manner.”

He said unions have the muscle to release resources controlled by the department to improve their lot, citing the lengthy dispute over supervision and substitution.

“This led to an agreement, whereby a very substantial amount of money is now being spent by the department on a service which could be comprehended as an integral part of a teacher’s job,” he said.

Mr Moriarty said recent significant education legislation has made some advances in recognising the rights and roles of parents.

However, the CSPA conference decided to seek legal opinion on whether the Education Act 1998 is constitutional. They believe it does not support parents’ rights as their children’s primary educators.

The association is strongly considering a court challenge of the legislation, with particular grievances over parental representation