O’Keeffe hints at ease on promotion ban

SCHOOLS may be given some relief from a ban on promotions which has created major management difficulties for schools with higher proportions of teacher retirements, Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe has indicated.

The bodies representing boards of management at the country’s 730 second- level schools last week urged the minister to consider a partial easing of the moratorium, which they say has affected some schools far worse than others.

In some cases, for example, all year-head posts – which give students a teacher who focuses on their academic and personal development – have been left vacant.