English system taught us badly

The Irish education system has suffered because it slavishly follows the English model of paperwork and assessment, reports, policy documents, health and safety and, now, self-evaluation.

We have forgotten that education is about the quality of contact between teacher and pupil.

The Government has insisted that teachers work an extra 36 hours a year to allow for the integrity of the pupil/teacher contact time and for school planning. This development is impacting the morale of teachers, in conjunction with pay cuts.