VECs calling for ban on recruitment to be lifted

Schools around the country face being left with no cleaners or caretakers as those positions will not be filled under the current ban on hiring, the Irish Vocational Education Association has warned.

It is expected that the body, which represents Irish Vocational Education Committees (IVECs) around the country, will call for the moratorium on these positions and on key educational posts to be lifted at their upcoming congress, which takes place on September 16 and 17 in Dromoland’s Clare Inn Hotel.

Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the IVEA, said small schools with just one caretaker would face serious repercussions if that person was to leave the post. He also said that schools would be put in a difficult situation if head teaching positions were not replaced.

“Schools are already stretched to the limit. I would be very concerned about maintaining the same quality of education we have had in the future,” he stated.

Among the other topics that will be discussed at the IVEA annual congress are the recommendations by economist Cathal McCarthy in the An Bord Snip report.

The McCarthy report also recommended cutting the capitation grants for schools, reducing the number of special needs assistants (SNA) and English language support posts and increasing the pupil/teacher ratio to 20:1.

Mr Owens said staff have had to be removed from further education colleges to secondary schools to make up a shortage in numbers and that the colleges are not able to meet the demand for further education in the city.

Article courtesy of The Evening Echo newspaper.