'Taking the knife to education sells the next generation,' says teaching union

INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan has told Education Minister Ruairi Quinn that "taking the knife to education sells the next generation short" at the teaching union's annual conference in Cork.

She also said that a world class economy and a fairer, more equal society can only be built with a top-class education.

The Minister has been accused of being out of touch as he was heckled and faced a red card protest at the conference.

About 100 members of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation repeatedly interrupted his address and held aloft messages attacking Government policy.

At the conference, Ms Nunan said teachers are looking at a system that is crashing about them, devastated by the wrecking ball of austerity over the last five years.

Ms Nunan criticised class sizes, which she said were the second highest in Europe, and the shameful paring back of resources for children with special needs.

Sheila Nunan tells Minister that even the slowest learners in the class know that austerity is not working. #into2013

— INTO (Irish National Teachers' Organisation) (@INTOnews) April 2, 2013

She also accused Government of failing to offer newly-qualified teachers anything but unemployment and emigration.

“Cuts to the front line of the primary school classroom impact on over half a million pupils and their families,” Ms Nunan said.

“Taking the knife to education sells the next generation short by failing to support their talents and their development.

“It sells short thousands of the best-qualified in Europe who have to look for work in Britain, Canada, Australia and the Middle East.”

The union leader said this was not the way for the Government to fulfil its commitment to protect frontline services and prioritise education.

“There are choices facing Government,” Ms Nunan added.

“There are taxation choices and spending choices.

“Education is not just a cost but an investment.”

Mr Quinn is also addressing the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland later today.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland last week overwhelmingly voted against the Croke Park deal. The INTO ballot is ongoing while Asti has urged its members to vote against it.