€1m spend on training that teachers won’t attend

The Department of Education could spend €1m in the next year on designing training that teachers are refusing to attend, in an industrial dispute over junior cycle reform.

More than 27,000 Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) members have withdrawn from co-operation with the planned Junior Cycle Student Award (JCSA), mainly over concerns about having to assess their own students.

The industrial action began in April and includes non-participation in continuous professional development (CPD) related to the planned replacement for the Junior Certificate.

But the department has just hired 15 people to expand its Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) support service, set up to train teachers and principals on the reforms. Most are teachers themselves but their appointments will cost around €1m a year.

“A substitute teacher is in place in the school the person is seconded from, which forms the major portion of the cost,” the department told the Irish Examiner.

The jobs filled last month include a JCT deputy director to oversee training around assessment and moderation. The JCSA is to be a school-issued certificate, based on coursework and exams marked by students’ own teachers, except in the first few years for the final exams in English, Irish and maths.

Unions oppose assessment being done by anyone but the State Examinations Commission (SEC). But the Irish Examiner revealed last week that 14,172 students — one-third more than last year — at 251 schools this year did an optional Junior Certificate oral Irish test that is not marked by the SEC.

Six regional leaders have been appointed to train and support teachers and school leaders on in-school planning and development for the junior cycle. But the unions have banned teachers from taking part in planning meetings on the JCSA.

And although their members are precluded from teaching short courses, another feature of the reforms, a team leader to design and deliver short-course training has also been appointed.

The department said the courses and supports being designed by JCT relate to teaching methods that may transcend other programmes and educational levels, as well as being relevant to junior cycle reform. It plans to provide comprehensive junior cycle CPD this year on school leadership, whole -school, English, science, short courses and new programmes for students with special needs.

“The schedule for roll-out of CPD is not yet finalised but planning the roll-out is continuing. Planning a CPD programme involves consultation with partners and taking account of a range of developments,” it said.

More talks between Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan and unions are planned in mid-October but the ASTI is balloting members for power to escalate to strikes if the dispute is not resolved, a mandate the TUI has from its ballot in March.

Around 90% of English teachers took part in JCT courses on a new curriculum before industrial action began. A subject leader and four advisors have been hired to design and deliver training in science, in which a new junior cycle course will be taught from September 2015.