The Department of Education has announced that planned changes to the law that could see untrained staff employed as teachers will not go ahead.

Last year, the previous government caused controversy when it brought forward an amendment to the Teaching Council Act that would have allowed non-teaching staff to be employed as teachers and paid the same rate, the Irish Independent reports.

However, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has indicated he will move away from these plans.

The move was welcomed by the Irish National Teachers Organisation, which had previously warned that its members would not work alongside "unqualified" staff from September.

General Secretary Sheila Nunan said: "It will put an end to the idea that anyone can walk into a classroom and pretend to be a teacher."

While schools will be able to hire unqualified supervisors to assist with pupil care if absolutely necessary, they will only be able to do this for extremely limited periods and they will not be classed as teachers.

Recently, the Department for Education denied reports there would be a 10 per cent cut in the number of resource teachers available from September, stating that in fact, 350 extra staff will be in place.

Written by Donal Walsh
 

Comments