O’Keeffe: Union directive is closing door on students

A TEACHERS’ union has been accused by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe of closing the door on students who it claims are being kept out of further education courses by Government limits.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) last week called for the funding cap of 33,500 places on Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses to be lifted, as soaring unemployment has led to an unprecedented 60,000-plus applications.

But Mr O’Keeffe said the union’s directive that members should not teach classes of 30 or more students means places on the same courses are being restricted.