Student teachers fight the system
Firstly, the Hibernia online H Dip course for primary teachers. It is run by a private company for profit, not by a public institution for education. This course was introduced over a bank holiday weekend, with the Government informing few people.
Hibernia’s 18-month, part-time course has been described by some as the future of teacher training.
Surely the public and educational institutions should have a say in the future. We were under the assumption that we lived in a democracy.
A teacher’s social and personal skills are of paramount importance. When students attend the established institutions, be it the B Ed or post-graduate (full-time, 18-month) course, these skills are developed to a high degree in their interaction with colleagues. How can these skills be developed when 45% of the course is taken at a computer screen?
How do they deliver modules such as drama, music and art?
We want this course halted, comprehensively debated and structured in a public domain. Education is a public entitlement, but the Government is saving a packet by passing the buck to a private company.
Secondly, graduate teachers from this year on must work until they are 65 to receive their full pension entitlements. It was 55 up until now. Do parents really want teachers to be forced to teach their children until the age of 65, if that teacher feels it is time to retire? It’s not fair on the children.
Thirdly, students spend a lot of money on essential resources for teaching practice and are expected to fund this from their own pocket.
These resources are needed to ensure the quality of education being given to the children they are teaching.
The protest successfully united students from various teaching colleges in fighting all three issues.
Unfortunately, Education Minister Mary Hanafin and the Department of Education responded to our peaceful and dignified protest by stating a flat ‘no’ to our demands.
The Government and Ms Hanafin don’t care enough adequately to fund education and are willing to sell it off to a private company. We believe everyone should care. Support public education; support a teacher training system with an excellent tradition; support democratic thinking; support your future teachers; support our campaign.
Pamela Kidney- President, Church of Ireland College of Education (CICE) Students’ Union
Amanda Morrow - CICE
Sean Hehir - President, Froebel (Blackrock, Co Dublin) SU
Francis Kieran - President, TCDSU
Ciaran Weafer - Deputy President, UCDSU
Ciarán Cunniffe - President, St Patrick’s (Drumcondra) SU
Maria Hannon - President, Marino (Dublin) SU
Lorraine Collins - President, St Catherine’s (Sion Hill, Blackrock) SU
Rory Hearne - Deputy President/Campaigns Officer
Union of Students in Ireland
Grattan Court
Dublin 2
