INTO in talks over school inspections

THE Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) is to continue discussions this morning on how to implement the decision of its annual congress last month not to co-operate with school inspections.

The motion was passed by delegates amid concerns about the impending publication of whole school evaluation (WSE) reports from the Department of Education inspectorate. They fear their availability online will lead to identification of some teachers.

While the legal issues arising from such a directive are still being considered, a number of clear difficulties arise for the union’s central executive committee.

One is the likelihood that individual teachers would be disciplined by Education Minister Mary Hanafin if they refuse to co-operate with the inspectorate.

Under the 1998 Education Act, school boards and staff must give an inspector every reasonable facility and co-operation.

The union must also consider if issuing a directive not to co-operate constitutes industrial action, as such a move may require a ballot of members under industrial relations legislation.

Ms Hanafin has indicated it would breach Sustaining Progress, under which teachers are due a 2.5% pay rise on June 1.

While the main focus of ordinary INTO members is the online publication of reports, teachers support the provision of information to their local communities.

The discussions began yesterday evening as a disagreement became apparent between Information Commissioner Emily O’Reilly and Ms Hanafin over inspection reports.

In her 2005 annual report, Ms O’Reilly welcomed the minister’s decision to publish the reports, albeit in restricted form, which she said appeared to be a direct consequence of the FoI Act.

But she expressed regret that almost €300,000 of public money had been spent by the Department of Education in legal challenges to releasing such information since 2003.

“It has to be seen as unsatisfactory that, for many years, the department strongly opposed release of the same type of information which the Minister is now happy to publish,” the commissioner remarked.

But Ms Hanafin said it was inaccurate to suggest or imply her department caused the €300,000 to be spent needlessly.

“The department did not instigate legal proceedings in the High Court or Supreme Court in relation to any decision by the Information Commissioner, these were taken by a private individual against the Information Commissioner,” a Department of Education statement said.

The Supreme Court ruled last May that the WSE report of a Dublin primary school should not be released to The Irish Times, as the Education Act supersedes Freedom of Information legislation and allows the minister to refuse the release of schools information.

Ms O’Reilly said privacy issues in relation to individual teachers must be addressed but the release of the information can only be positive in overall terms.