MINISTER FOR Education Batt O’Keeffe is to review the entitlement of teachers to take over 30 uncertified sick leave days every year.
The move is part of a cost-cutting review by the department which will also examine substitution arrangements in schools.
Last year, over 3,500 primary teachers and 3,200 second level teachers took between five and nine uncertified sick leave days.
Primary teachers can take a maximum of 31 uncertified sick leave days in a school year.
In secondary and community or comprehensive schools, teachers can take a maximum of 30 uncertified sick leave days annually.
The department believes this entitlement is now over-generous and out of step with arrangements elsewhere in the public sector.
Most private sector employers will only allow a handful of uncertified sick leave days.
Last night a ministerial spokesman said: “The Minister feels that the number of uncertified sick days to which teachers are entitled is an issue that merits examination.
“Entitlements to uncertified sick leave are higher for teachers than in many areas of the public sector.”
The department released figures on the number of uncertified sick leave days taken by primary teachers last year. Some 15,545 took 1-4 days; 3,557 took 5-9 days; 377 took 10-14 days; 53 took 15-19 days; and 10 took 20- 24 days. Five teachers took over 25 uncertified sick leave days.
At second level, 9,353 teachers took 1-4 days of uncertified sick leave; 3,208 took 5-9 days; 533 took 10-14 days; 88 took 15-19 days and 17 took 20-24 days.
A total of six teachers took more than 25 uncertified sick leave days at second level.
The ministerial spokesman stressed that the incidence of uncertified sick leave among teachers is not high relative to other sectors.
The review of the substitution and supervision scheme involving the department, the school management bodies and the teacher union will be completed by the end of the year.
Last year, the Minister suspended some teacher substitution arrangements. After discussions with school managers and patrons, the Minister agreed to a partial climbdown on the issue. The new arrangements still save the exchequer over €16 million annually.
Interim substitution arrangements for the current school year have been put in place, pending the ongoing review.
