Tensions over class crowding directive

TENSIONS have started to rise between teachers, the Government and school managers after claims that a union has told members to walk out on overcrowded classes.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has sent a reminder to its 8,000 second level members, returning to work next week, of a long-standing directive not to teach classes of more than 30 students. In the case of practical subjects, the most students allowed under the directive is 24, with just 20 for home economics classes.

But although the policy has been in place for many years, both Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe and the body representing most TUI members’ employers reacted angrily to the guidelines for implementing it.

The union’s annual conference had instructed officials to draw up these guidelines. The executive committee decided that members who do not comply could face charges of unworthy conduct and possible disciplinary charges. The directive was delivered in a letter to school stewards.

The Department of Education said it is concerned that, at a time of real difficulty for the country, a union would direct its members, under threat of disciplinary action, to frustrate the efforts of schools to deliver from within their resources the best possible education to children.

“We would urge the TUI and all other unions in the education sector to work with us in a spirit of co-operation and in solidarity with those people, including many parents who’ve lost their jobs in this recession,” a spokesperson said.

The Irish Vocational Education Association, representing city and county Vocational Education Committees whose schools employ most TUI members, has been strongly critical of many cutbacs to schools and their likely impact on children. But its general secretary, Michael Moriarty, said the force of the directive and the strict guidelines for implementation are of particular concern to school managers and principals, who, he said, would be caught in the middle of a difficult situation.

“We had warned that the educational sector was facing into a winter of discontent and this salvo from the TUI is a real indication that attitudes are hardening,” Mr Moriarty said.

The TUI rejected reports suggesting it has told members to walk out. “At no time are teachers instructed to walk out of classes or to leave students unattended. This would be wrong, unprofessional and irresponsible. The union is adopting a highly responsible course of action designed to protect the education quality for the students,” TUI general secretary Peter MacMenamin said.

The instructions to schools say students should not be left unattended but where sizes are not brought into line with the directive within a week of it being brought to the attention of the principal, a teacher should leave the class in a safe place and advise the principal that the class is his or her responsibility until it is reduced in size.