Most secondary teachers believe extra supports are needed next year to help students who are lagging behind due to Covid-related disruption to teaching and learning, according to a new survey.
The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) online survey of 1,200 members carried out in March and April found that 87 per cent of respondents believe additional supports will be needed during the 2022/23 academic year.
The vast majority (84 per cent) also believe emergency remote teaching and learning had a disproportionately negative effect on students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
A similar proportion said some students were unable to engage with remote teaching and learning as a result of not having access to electronic devices.
When asked what measures would best support those who have lost out, most teachers said smaller classes, followed by increased teacher allocation, enhanced guidance counselling support and the restoration of middle-management posts.
The survey also indicates that only a minority of teachers who joined the profession since 2011 believe they will still be teaching in 10 years’ time. This percentage changes to 75 per cent if two-tier pay-scales are completely eliminated.
The availability of affordable accommodation also emerges as a severe problem, according to the poll.
Almost three quarters of those appointed after 2011 do not believe it would be possible for them to get mortgage approval for a property in or near the location where they work.
Of those renting among the same cohort, 98 per cent said it would be extremely difficult (77 per cent) or difficult (21 per cent) to secure new accommodation in the locality if they had to vacate their current accommodation.
Pay discrimination
TUI president Martin Marjoram said the findings showed the need to end the "scandal" of pay discrimination.
He also said it was of great concern that 65 per cent of teachers did not get a contract of full hours upon initial appointment, which meant that for several years, they only earn a fraction of a full salary.
“To make the profession attractive, we must return to a situation where teachers are appointed to permanent contracts of full hours from the commencement of their careers,” he said.
He said the TUI position is that all second level members would forgo a 1 per cent pay increase payable on February 1st, 2022 so that the equivalent value would allow reinstatement of the Professional Masters in Education (PME) allowance to those appointed since 2012.
"So effectively the money to end the scandal of pay discrimination has been donated by teachers themselves but is currently resting in exchequer accounts while we wait for resolution. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform must immediately and finally eliminate pay discrimination," he said.
Mr Marjoram also said the remaining funds could also allow a return to the pre-2011 system of commencing new, fully qualified post-primary teachers on a higher point of the salary scale in recognition of their six-year, unpaid training period. Unions estimate that new entrants face career losses in the region of €50,000 because of the changes.
The Department is understood to have resisted this proposal on the basis that new entrants should begin on the first point of salary scales.
Minister for Education Norma Foley, meanwhile, has said that teachers' pay is part of a wider public sector discussion between the unions and Government.
Discussions are due to get underway soon on a possible new public sector pay deal after the Irish Congress of Trade Unions invoked a change-in-circumstances clause to a review of the current deal on the back of rising inflation.
Ms Foley has said that new entrant has risen significantly since 2012, up from €30,702 to €38,192 in October of this year.
