Young teachers deserve more pay and more hours

Ruairi Quinn oversaw cruel cutbacks towards the end of his term as Minister for Education. He increased the hours teachers had to work, via more supervision, for no pay.

Young teachers, often only teaching six or seven hours a week, get no paid supervision hours. Before, these teachers might have gotten three or four hours a week additional pay for supervising classes, when staff teachers were sick or on leave. Young teachers have to work for years before they get decent hours in secondary schools. Research shows a positive view of the future is a protective factor for young people.

Shauna McGarry Egan