ASTI: Subsidy axe would cost more

The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland has said it would cost the State more if the €95m annual subsidy to fee-paying schools was withdrawn.

Figures reported in the Irish Examiner yesterday showed the cost to taxpayers in the most recent school year for 56 mostly second-level schools included €86.6m on teacher salaries.

But the union said withholding supports would see a big movement of students into schools that are entirely state-funded.

This, in turn, would mean additional capitation budgets for running costs being paid to those schools by the Department of Education, which does not pay them to fee-paying schools.

The ASTI said the less favourable state funding of teachers in the sector, with salaries paid for a 21:1 pupil-teacher ratio as opposed to 19:1 in other schools, means teacher costs for the exchequer are already lower than in other second-level schools.

The Labour Party passed a motion in April in favour of withdrawing the subsidies over a four-year period. A motion to retain state support for fee-paying schools was defeated at Young Fine Gael’s summer school in Kerry at the weekend.

The same event also backed calls to get second-level teachers to correct and supervise the Junior and Leaving Certificate as part of their contracts, and help save some of the €30m running costs of the exams.

But the ASTI spokesperson said proposals to subject the exams to a cost-saving exercise that would impact on their operation is not in the best interest of students.

“The State exams system as it currently operates ensures that our students can participate in a highly organised, reliable, fair and efficient exams process,” she said. “Examiners and other personnel apply for and are specifically appointed to carry out this work based on subject expertise, experience and other criteria.”