Rules on hiring of substitute teachers are ‘inadequate’

STRICT rules to give priority for substitute work to qualified unemployed teachers have been described by unions as inadequate to stop unqualified people from being hired by schools.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn is bringing in the rules for next September after anger at last month’s teacher union conferences over the continued use of unqualified people and retired teachers to cover absences.

The rules are to be given legal effect under planned changes to the law that would ban the use of people not registered with the Teaching Council, except in very limited circumstances.