The thorny subject of learning and teaching maths is being discussed today at Irish National Teachers’ Organisation annual congress in Co Kilkenny.

The Clare North Branch of the primary teachers union has proposed a motion that additional learning support for maths, Math Recovery, which is available in some primary schools, be extended to all primary schools.

The key features of the programme are intensive, individualised, group or class teaching of low-attaining first class pupils by specialist teachers.

It includes the use of a specially developed instructional approach, and distinctive instructional activities and assessment procedures.

But it also involves an extensive professional development course to prepare specialist teachers, and on-going collegial and leader support for these teachers.

Yesterday Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn provoked discontent among some teachers when he said he would like all new entrants to the profession to have higher level, leaving certificate maths, as a minimum requirement.

Mr Quinn also provoked anger when he appeared to link the honours maths issue with the “feminisation” of the teaching profession at primary level.

Sheila Nunan general secretary of the INTO said she is "agnostic" on the issue of higher level maths.

Other issues facing the delegates at the annual congress in Kilkenny include primary school class sizes, the workload of teachers and principals and the election of the incoming president and vice president of the orgnaisation.

Motions passed at the Into Congress 2014

Small schools

Primary teachers meeting at the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation annual congress in Kilkenny have called on patrons of schools to appoint an independent School Support Person(SSP) in each diocese. The person would assist boards of management in schools where pupil numbers are in decline. The role of the SSP would be to examine future demographic trends, the overall parish situation, distance from other schools, ethos and language in schools where enrolment falls below 26 pupils.

Into vice president Sean McMahon said what schools needed was a coherent, long-term and resourced strategy for sustainable schools.

Pay Claim

Primary teachers have called on the union’s executive to lodge a pay claim in order to improve teachers’ pay following a series of cuts since 2008. The top motion for discussion on the Into’s agenda in Kilkenny argued that that wage increases should have priority over tax reductions as the latter would diminish public services.

The delegates also unanimously supported a call for the pension levy on public servants to be phased out arguing that it was an unfair and selective charge on public servants.

Fergal Brougham, a member of the INTO Executive said the government should introduce a new rate of income tax of 48 percent for individual incomes of over €100,000

Ban on promotion

Into has demanded an end to the moratorium on promotion in primary schools which has been in place since 2008. Less than one in four primary schools has an assistant principal post compared to when the ban was introduced, a reduction of 46 per cent.

Special duties posts in schools have decreased by 24 per cent. Sheila Nunan, general secretary of the said primary school principals are at breaking point.

LGBT teachers

The chairwoman of the INTO LGBT Teachers’ Group Anne Marie Lillis said section 37.1 of the Equality Acts, which allows LGBT teachers to be fired was “a barrier to equality; a barrier to inclusion; and a barrier to dignity in the workplace”.

Speaking during a report on equality issues at the union’s congress in Kilkenny Ms Lillis said LGBT teachers were “ordinary teachers with ordinary lives. We are not looking for preferential treatment or special privileges,” she said, “just the same freedoms as everyone else.”

Survey findings :

The results of a survey of primary teachers was revealed at the conference. It found:

Nearly two thirds of teachers are dissatisfied with their pay levels and conditions of employment.

Half of teachers do not have enough time for additional non-teaching duties and responsibilities

Increased demands from the Department of Education and the introduction of major new initiatives without adequate consultation a major cause of concern.

Only 14 percent of teachers believe that the Department of Education and Skills takes their professional opinions into account when formulating education policy.

Motions yet to be debated

Attacks on teachers

Congress notes the number of teachers who have been assaulted by pupils in the course of their teaching work, and calls for a separate system of work-related assault leave that does not impinge on existing sick leave arrangements.

(Branch Limerick East)

Book Rental

Congress demands that the book rental grant scheme be extended to all schools irrespective of whether they are currently operating a book rental scheme.

(Branch Athboy/Trim)

Staff funding

Congress rejects the proposals announced by the Minister for Education and Skills and the Minister for Public Expenditure to devolve school funding for staffing to local level and calls for resistance to this measure.

(Branch Cork City South West)

Learning support for maths

Congress demands that Maths Recovery (Mata sa Rang) and Reading Recovery be extended to all primary schools.

(Branch Clare North)