Protesting teachers warn they will fight further education cuts
Students and newly- qualified men and women also joined the rally at the Dáil to demand equal pay for equal work after the Government slashed their starting salaries.
Gerry Breslin, president of second-level school union ASTI, told about 2,000 supporters that cuts affect children and young people’s lives today and in the future.
“They affect student wellbeing and student attainment,” said Mr Breslin.
“They hinder economic recovery. They hurt the vulnerable the most.
“Our children, our young people, our young teachers, are being hurt. It is essential that we send a clear message today. There can be no more cuts to education.”
Anne Fay, president of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, said primary schools were already on the breadline.
“Education funding has fallen off a cliff in recent years, while the system iscoping with more and more pupils every year,” said Ms Fay.
“The school system is at breaking point and we need to send a message toGovernment today that education cuts don’t heal.”
The unions — backed by several politicians — criticised failings to tackle teacher unemployment and cuts to the pay of new teachers and allowances ofothers.
Yvonne Rossiter, a newly-qualified teacher, said the treatment of new teachers was everyone’s concern.
“If we devalue the work of one teacher, we short-change every student and every teacher in our schools,” she said.
TUI president Gerry Craughwell warned education cuts do not heal.
“Any further cuts to the education system will have a profound effect on our society, on our young people and on our chances of economic recovery,” said Mr Craughwell.
“We currently have a situation whereby many of our talented, enthusiastic new teachers and lecturers are attempting to survive in part-time positions, with mere fragments of jobs.
“They are struggling to build a career on incomes which don’t provide a basic standard of living.”
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