Value Primary Education - INTO Pre-Budget Submission - Irish National Teachers' Organisation
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Value Primary Education INTO Pre-Budget Submission 2019
Time to invest
in primary education
Budget 2019 must deliver for our nation’s primary schools.
With the recession behind us and the economy flourishing once
more, it’s time to invest in primary education.
Irish primary schools fare badly when it comes to funding relative to other
levels within our education system. With more than half a million children
attending a primary school in Ireland, these citizens and leaders of tomorrow
deserve better.
Now is the time to, once and for all, cap class sizes at 20 students ensuring
teachers and schools and, more importantly, children will never again be crowded
out of Irish education. Teachers want to give students the type of individual
attention and support that enables them to bloom. Smaller classes really matter,
especially for younger children and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Now too is the time to acknowledge that leadership positions within schools
are critical. Principals and teaching principals in Irish primary schools are
overworked, underpaid and struggling under never-ending administrative
work emerging from the Department of Education and Skills and other State
agencies. It’s time to address workload issues. It’s time to deliver a minimum of
one release day per week for teaching principals. It’s time to restore the key
promoted posts cut during the recession. It’s time to pay a now ten-year-old
pay award to our school leaders.
Now is the time to restore pay equality for primary teachers, to end the unjust
and indefensible emergency era pay measures introduced at the height of the
recession. It’s about fairness. If you do the same job you deserve to be paid the
same.
Now is the time to fund our schools. With school funding having dropped to
less than one euro per pupil per day, schools are scavenging to meet basic
expenses. Parents contribute enormous amounts of
money to keep schools afloat. This funding model is
an insult to the children and tax-paying parents of this
country, it turns school principals and teachers into
fundraisers. Capitation grants must be increased
significantly in this Budget.
In this budget submission, we set out the INTO’s key
priorities to Government ahead of Budget 2019.
INTO General Secretary
Pre-Budget Submission 2019 1
INTO recommends
that Budget 2019 must …
Reduce class sizes
Smaller classes support inclusion of children, allow more individual attention
and meet the ambition of Government to establish the best education system
in Europe.
Education at a Glance (OECD 2017) shows that Ireland has primary school class
sizes 5 pupils above the EU average. While, there was a welcome reduction in
Budget 2018, this needs to be expanded to deliver the EU average class sizes of 20.
€ We anticipate it would cost €16.5 million to reduce class size by
one student.
Support our school leaders
Budget 2018 failed to build on the start of restoration of middle management
posts from Budget 2017. Over 5,000 posts were lost during the recession.
Budget 2019 must restore these posts fully and provide for a minimum of one
release day per week to enable teaching principals to focus on the vast
functions of school leadership they are responsible for.
€ We anticipate it would cost €15 million for full post restoration
and €10 million to provide the minimum of one release day per
week for teaching principals.
End pay inequality
Equal pay for equal work is a basic right. New entrants to the teaching
profession from 1 January 2011 were subject to a 27-year scale compared to a
24-year scale for older entrants. These pay scales are the longest in the public
service.
Over a career in teaching, a 2012 entrant remains up to €100,000 (4%) behind
a 2010 entrant.
A process is currently underway, to address salary scale issues for post-January
2011 entrants, between public service unions and the Department of Public
Expenditure and Reform. This engagement under the Public Service Stability
Agreement (PSSA) involves multiple grades across a wide range of the public-
sector unions. It follows the publication in March of a government report
2 Irish National Teachers’ Organisation
examining the remaining salary scale issues for post-January 2011 entrants to
the public service.
Government must restore entrant pay levels now that Ireland is firmly out of
economic recession.
€ Government states that it would cost approximately €200
million to resolve this pay inequality issue right across the
public sector.
Adequately fund our schools
School grants were cut by 15% in the recession. An immediate funding
capitation increase is now needed for schools’ basic needs. An annual Minor
Works Grant must be guaranteed.
A survey undertaken by the Catholic Primary School Management Association
found that parents pay over €40 million to support basic school funding each
year.
The cut of €30 per pupil (from €200 to €170) since 2010 has turned teachers
into fundraisers.
An annual Minor Works Grant (€5,500 basic + €18.50 per pupil) is essential
for school repairs, upkeep and furnishing.
€ We anticipate it would cost €17.6 million to increase capitation
to pre-2011 levels.
Secure teacher supply
Many schools cannot get cover for teacher absences. Restoration of teacher
supply panels is the only way to guarantee qualified teachers for all our children.
Children are entitled to have a qualified teacher each school day.
€ We anticipate minimal cost for restoration of supply panels as
substitute teachers are already employed where available.
Pre-Budget Submission 2019 3
Class sizes
While previous budgets have lowered the pupil to teacher ratio in schools,
class sizes in Ireland remain well above the EU and OECD averages. With
25 students on average in an Irish primary classroom, compared to the EU
average of 20 or the OECD average of 21, it’s clear Irish students are losing
out. Class sizes have a huge impact on children’s learning with evidence
showing that in smaller classes learning outcomes significantly improve.
Many EU countries are outperforming Ireland in this area. The illustration
EU Avg. (left) shows EU leaders on class sizes.
20 Schools were directed to use extra resources to prioritise smaller classes for
Finland infant pupils, where smaller classes are deemed to have the most
Ireland 19 impact. Younger children benefit greatly from smaller classes – initial
25 education lays the foundations for future learning, so smaller class sizes are
especially valuable for the early years of education when children are
Austria developing literacy and numeracy skills.
18 Evidence shows that children from disadvantaged backgrounds do better in
Greece smaller classes. As part of the extra supports package available to schools in
Italy 17 the DEIS Scheme (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) there is a
lower pupil-teacher ratio in DEIS Band 1 schools giving a pupil-teacher ratio of
19 20:1 in junior schools, 22:1 in vertical schools (schools with junior and senior
classes) and 24:1 in senior schools.
While the pupil-teacher ratio in schools was reduced in both Budget 2016
and Budget 2018, there was no corresponding reduction made in the
pupil-teacher ratio in DEIS schools. This has further narrowed the margin
between DEIS and other schools. The reduction in class size must be passed
on to DEIS schools in order to provide supports for our most vulnerable
children so that they may have the opportunity they deserve to achieve their
educational potential.
The complexity of the contemporary classroom is such that, with larger class
sizes, teachers are finding it extremely difficult to meet the broad spectrum of
needs of children. When class numbers are of a more reasonable size, modern
teaching methods work, and teachers are able to spend the time needed with
children. The methodologies which are recommended are achievable in classes
with smaller numbers and so the quality of teaching and learning is improved.
4 Irish National Teachers’ Organisation
Leadership support
During the recessionary period a moratorium on promotion in schools was
imposed. Almost 5,000 ‘posts of responsibility’ (PORs) were lost, meaning less
opportunity for career progression for teachers within our education system.
These middle management posts were positive steps on the career ladder for
teachers. Such posts, referred to as ‘special duties posts’ or ‘assistant principals’,
involved a teacher taking on particular responsibility for activities or a
curricular area (for example choir/music, sport and physical education, science
etc.) in return for a responsibility allowance (€3,769 or €8,520).
As a result of this ban, no special duties posts in schools could be filled, and
there were very tight restrictions on the appointment of assistant
principals. The cutting of these posts left schools without supports in a range
of curricular and other areas and abolished career progression for
teachers. Coupled with the issue of pay inequality for post-2011 entrants, for
younger teachers this served as a factor which fuelled their interest in
travelling abroad to teach overseas for a period, enabling them to avail of
promotion opportunities denied in Ireland.
2017 saw the first structured restoration of posts of responsibility to schools
since the moratorium on promotion in schools was first introduced in March
2009. The INTO, though acknowledging some movement on this
issue, viewed the filling of these posts as merely a start to restoration and
continues to demand a full restoration. There was no improvement made in
Budget 2018; this is an important area for teachers and schools and post
restoration in Budget 2019 is essential.
€ We anticipate that a full restoration of these critical posts would
cost €15.3 million.1
The INTO is calling for one release day per week for teaching principals who
are over-burdened and over-stretched with an ever-increasing administrative
workload in addition to their teaching duties. The INTO is currently supporting
a Department of Education and Skills ‘cluster’ model whereby a number of
schools with teaching principals may pool their release days to hire one teacher
to cover all posts. This is advantageous to all parties involved, including pupils
who benefit from continuity of the same teacher covering for their class teacher.
€ We anticipate that the provision of one release day per week
for teaching principals would cost €10 million.
1 Calculation is based on the reintroduction of 647 Assistant Principal 1 posts at €8,520 and 2,593
Assistant Principal II posts at €3,769.
Pre-Budget Submission 2019 5
Equal pay and pay parity
The start of 2011 saw the implementation of a 10% cut to the pay of new
entrants, which meant that any teachers graduating from 2011 onwards were
significantly financially disadvantaged. Further measures cut the pay of
entrants from early 2012. Although significant progress has been made in
reversing these impositions, a post-2011 graduate entering the profession still
stands to lose between €50,000 and €100,000 (compared with a comparable
earlier entrant) over their 40-year career.
The economic crisis is now over but we are left with the legacy of unequal pay.
This inequality is divisive, and it is unfair. It undervalues younger teachers and
it devalues teaching as a profession. It has had a huge impact on teacher
morale and has led to significant difficulties in the recruitment and retention of
teachers.
Pay parity for principals
Primary school principals were awarded an increase in their allowances in
2007 to bring their pay closer to that of their post-primary contemporaries.
This award was due for payment in 2008 but was withdrawn with the
economic crisis.
It is an overdue debt to principals and should be paid now. It should also be
noted that the role of principal has significantly expanded since 2007 with
additional responsibility attached.
6 Irish National Teachers’ Organisation
Fund our schools
Irish primary schools receive significantly less funding than second and third
level institutions. Primary schools get 92 cent per pupil per day to cover their
running costs. Second-level schools get almost double that amount. Overall,
for every €8 spent on primary schools, €11 is spent at second level and €15 at
third level.
The Standard Capitation Grant per pupil has dropped from €200 in 2010 to
€170 at present – in contrast to the current figure of €296 at post-primary
level. Annual expenditure per student in Ireland is lower than the OECD
average for pre-primary and primary education. Primary per pupil spend is
10% below EU average.
This funding disparity is grossly unfair and damaging to children’s long-term
prospects.
Department of Education and Skills funding to primary schools for their
day-to-day running costs covers only part of their bill. Parents and local
communities are subsidising primary schools to the tune of €46m a year to
cover basic costs – not sophisticated extras to enhance learning, but rather
basic necessities required to effectively deliver the curriculum.
€ We anticipate the cost of restoring the capitation grant to
pre-2011 levels would cost €17.6 million.
The INTO calls on the Government to fully reinstate the Minor Works Grant
(for essentials such as electrical services, maintenance of furniture and PE
equipment, floor covering and blinds etc.)
Pre-Budget Submission 2019 7
Plan teacher supply
There is a wealth of evidence to highlight the severity of the shortage of
substitute teachers available to cover absences. This is causing anxiety among
teachers, principals (and parents) the length and breadth of the country. In
response to concerns raised, the CPSMA undertook a comprehensive survey
highlighting the gravity of this problem. As illustrated in the results of this
survey, schools indicated they were unable to access a teacher to cover
9
approximately one quarter (3,659 days) of their substitutable absences (15,552
Substitute days) during the first 8 weeks of the academic year. Schools were forced to
absences resort to unqualified teachers for a further 1,136 of these days.
Unqualified The results can also be represented as follows:
cover
No teacher 90% of respondents/ 83% reported
cover
schools experienced
difficulty sourcing
90% 83% greater difficulty
than in
substitutes previous years
The INTO is concerned that in the 2016/2017 school year 3,600 persons
without a primary teaching qualification worked in classrooms for over 30,000
subbing days. The impact of staff shortages in schools includes:
• pupils missing out on learning as their class is split and moved into other
classes, where they are supervised but not engaged in learning;
• over-crowding in classes which leads to an environment not conducive to
learning, impacting negatively on classes even when their teacher is present;
• teaching principals unable to avail of their days of administrative leave;
• administrative principals being deployed as class teachers;
• SET (Special Education Teachers) being deployed as class teachers,
meaning pupils with special education needs have reduced access to SET
teachers;
• student teachers being pressurised to substitute and therefore being absent
from college;
For further • teachers/principals unable to attend CPD/courses due to unavailability of
information substitutes.
Please contact The INTO believes that the only satisfactory solution to the problem is the
David Geary, establishment of proper supply panels. These provide security of supply of
INTO Head of substitute teachers. They provide security of employment for those teachers.
Communications As above, the INTO are currently working on a ‘cluster’ model whereby a
at dgeary@into.ie number of schools with teaching principals may employ one teacher to cover
their release days.
8 Irish National Teachers’ OrganisationJoe Killeen, INTO President, Maire English, Dara Calleary TD, Deputy Jackie Cahill TD, Fianna Fáil and Brendan Joe Killeen, INTO President, Feargal Brougham, Vice President,
Leader, Fianna Fáil, Colin Syron and Vincent Duffy Horan, INTO CEC Louise O’Reilly TD, Sinn Féin, Kyne Rushe, INTO member
Joe McHugh TD, Fine Gael, Sheila Nunan, General Secretary, Joe McKeown, CEC, Kathleen Funchion TD, Sinn Féin, Sheila Joe Killeen, INTO President, Mattie McGrath TD,
John Boyle, ex INTO President Nunan, General Secretary Independent, Brendan Horan, CEC
Carmel Hume, CEC, Senator Ivana Bacik, Labour, Sheila Denis Everett, INTO member, Sheila Nunan, General Joe McKeown, CEC, Brendan Howlin TD, Labour Party
Nunan, General Secretary Secretary, Senator Neale Richmond, Fine Gael Leader, Sheila Nunan, General Secretary
Joe Killeen, INTO Joe McKeown, CEC,
President, Donncha Sean Fleming TD,
McGinley, INTO, Fianna Fáil, Chair of
Mary Mitchell Public Accounts
O’Connor, Minister Committee, Joe
of State for Higher Killeen, INTO
Education, Sheila President, Kieran
Nunan, General Brosnan, INTO
Secretary memberHead Office Vere Foster House 35 Parnell Square Dublin 1 DO1 ET35 Ard Oifig 35 Cearnóg Parnell Baile Átha Cliath 1 DO1 ET35 Phone/Fón: 01 804 7700 Fax: 01 872 2462 Email: info@into.ie Web: www.into.ie
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