ASTI conference

Who?The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland
Where?Radisson SAS Hotel, Sligo
When?Starts today, concludes on Thursday
Membership:17,000 plus
Delegates:500

Key issues?

With last week's ASTI survey revealing that 64 per cent of third-year students are taught in classes of 25 students or more, with 16 per cent taught in classes of 30 students or more, the issue of class size will undoubtedly loom large at this week's convention.

The survey also served to illustrate the increasingly diverse nature of Irish classrooms, where more than one in seven Junior Certificate students has special needs, learning difficulties or does not speak English as their mother tongue.

The ASTI says its members have been welcoming of this "mainstreaming" of pupils - but that the necessary resources to facilitate this still need to be provided. This includes extra language support teachers and adequate professional training for teachers.

Interestingly, one motion on the issue, from its New Ross branch, calls for the union to adopt a policy of a maximum class size of 20 for all subjects, to be implemented from next year.

Elsewhere, the ongoing school discipline crisis is also expected to feature strongly, with the ASTI pointing out that while Minister for Education Mary Hanafin's recent introduction of Behavioural Support teams was welcome, these only cater for 6 per cent of schools.

This has prompted some in the union to ask, "what about the other 94 per cent?"

This year has seen a continuation of the trend whereby several long-established secondary schools have announced their closure, frequently due to falling enrolments. Again this is an issue of concern to the ASTI membership as it prepares to meet today.

The need for science laboratory assistants to be provided in secondary schools in order to enhance the teaching of crucial subjects such as physics, chemistry and biology is also set to feature as a hot topic of debate this week, with other issues due for discussion including the situation of part-time and fixed-term teachers and overall pay and conditions for ASTI members.

What do ASTI member make of the Hanafin era?

"Nobody seems to have a bad word to say about her," is how one senior source described the ASTI general membership's relationship with the Minister for Education.

Described as outgoing and approachable, and genuinely willing to listen to teachers' concerns, others however claim she tends to simply deflect those questions which she does not want to answer.

Expect delegates to keep a keen eye on what Hanafin has to say in her address to the conference this evening.

More specifically, they will be anxious to hear more details, if any, regarding Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's rather vague commitment to tackle class size in certain key subjects such as maths at the recent Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis.

Senior figures in the ASTI point out that assessing the number of extra teachers required at second level is more difficult than at primary level, because teachers do not teach a single class or subject.

But they say the hiring of 2,000 additional teachers, as previously recommended in a Government report, would serve as a good starting point.

What will they be talking about behind the scenes?

Little doubt but that the talk of the conference, aside from the issues outlined above, could be the candidacy of outspoken member Bernard Lynch for the ASTI vice-presidency.

This will be decided during the convention.

Sources say the contest for the post, currently held by former treasurer Patricia Wroe - who will be elected as president unopposed this week - could be extremely tight, with both Lynch and rival candidate Pat Hurley drawing strong support.

The election of Lynch - who took a High Court action in 2001 challenging his exclusion from meetings of the union's executive for alleged disruptive behaviour, before eventually having his legal fees of €76,000 paid by the union - would ordinarily see him progressing in a year's time to the post of union president, its highest elected position.

Expect some fireworks if this happens. Lynch, who announced his plans to resign from the ASTI two years ago before reconsidering, is a close ally of former president Bernadine O Sullivan.

Elsewhere, expect O'Sullivan to be quietly canvassing support at this year's election for her campaign for a seat in the Seanad.

Is the ASTI losing out in terms of publicity?

This depends on your perspective. There is little doubt that following the much publicised battles of previous years, the ASTI has adopted a more "low-key" approach to the media.

This has been achieved under the steady stewardship of its much respected general secretary, John White, and relatively new appointee as deputy general secretary, Diarmaid de Paor.

The union scored some well deserved pre-publicity last week for its survey on class size.

But it has at times struggled to mobilise the troops - most importantly parents and members on the ground - in support of its aims.

Will there be any fun?

Without a shadow of a doubt. ASTI delegates are among the most committed education activists in the country, but also know the value of socialising with their fellow members from around the country, frequently until late into the evening.

Expect to see plenty of tired heads taking advantage of the spa treatments offered by the conference venue - schedule demands permitting, of course!

John Downeswill be covering the ASTI conference in Sligo