Teacher cover decision puts future of school competitions in doubt

SCHOOL sports competitions face major disruption or even cancellation after a move to withdraw substitute teacher cover for staff bringing students to games.

Schools are already warning that the step will mean teams may have to pull out of games when the measure is introduced in January.

It is part of a €15 million cut in the Department of Education budget next year for substitute cover for school business absences, which includes coaches and other teachers accompanying teams to games.

But with a range of other cuts planned in school funding, most schools will have no option but to restrict such absences rather than pay for substitute teachers.

The biggest impact is likely to be on Gaelic games and soccer matches which mostly take part during school hours.

Brian Lotty, coach to the senior hurling team at Coláiste na Tríonóide in Youghal, Co Cork, said the effect will be devastating. “This was only announced on Tuesday and it’s already causing consternation. If there’s no funding available and substitution can’t be covered, the only realistic option is that there will be no games,” he said.

“A typical year in the Harty Cup for us would mean three or four challenge games before three round robin matches and hopefully more, but for every one of those there’s two teachers missing for up to 12 classes.”

The organisation representing the boards of almost 400 secondary schools said the move would put paid to Government ambitions to allow schools cater for more than their students’ academic education.

“This could lead to the demise of schools competitions, even though we’ve always prided ourselves on looking after the growth of the student not just academically but with sports and other extra-curricular activities,” said Joint Managerial Body general secretary Ferdia Kelly.

Minister for Education Ned O’Keeffe’s spokesperson said the cuts were made to help limit growth in public sector pay, and that paid substitution cover available to all schools could be used during such absences.

“The minister fully realises that the changes regarding substitution will present particular challenges in the day-to-day management of schools and he asks schools for co-operation and understanding in undertaking to implement these new arrangements,” the spokesperson said.

Clive Byrne, director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) added: “There’s a massive risk of schools pulling out of games, especially with the health and safety requirements to have more adults accompanying students.”

A spokesperson for the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), which has seen rising numbers in schools competitions in recent years, said they didn’t expect any withdrawals as games are usually played on Wednesday afternoons when most participating schools have half-days.