Progress on complaints procedure to end dispute

THE dispute between primary teachers and the Department of Education over the publication of school inspection reports appears to be at an end following progress on a complaints procedure.

The central executive of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) has decided not to issue a directive sought by delegates at the union’s annual congress in April, which would have told the 26,700 members not to co-operate with whole school evaluations (WSEs) carried out by department inspectors.

The main concern was about possible identification of staff from small schools on the internet but about 600 members at a consultative conference on Saturday heard that a robust complaints procedure has been agreed with the department for those who are unhappy with their school’s report.