Teachers role in Leaving Cert and school reopening needs to be acknowledged and two-tier pay ended

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD
14 September 2020
  • Pay inequality needs to be addressed in Budget 2021

The role played by teachers in reopening schools and as part of the Leaving Cert calculated grades process needs to be acknowledged and the two-tier pay system ended according to Labour Education Spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin T.D.

Deputy Ó Ríordáin said:

“This year has been an unprecedented challenge both for our students and their teachers. The role played by teachers in reopening schools during a global pandemic and in successfully navigating themselves and their students through the uncharted waters of calculated grading needs to be acknowledged. Never in the history of the State was so much expected of the teaching profession. Teachers have really stepped up to the mark over the last six months whether it was in reopening the schools surrounded by the threat of Covid-19 or in adjudicating their own students state examinations which they did meticulously and fairly. It is only right that the Government acknowledges the additional workload and stress that this placed on teachers.

“It is high time that the Government ended the unfairness of the two-tier pay system introduced by Fianna Fáil in 2010 and addressed pay inequality for young teachers. The two-tier pay system is driving people away from teaching and unless it is addressed the Government will continue to have difficulty in filling vacant teaching posts.

“The Covid pandemic has shone a light on many of the inequalities in society including in the teaching profession. The pivotal role played by teachers as part of the reopening of schools and in the successful delivery of the calculated grades process needs to be acknowledged. If we are to truly value teachers, then they need to make sure that pay inequality is addressed as part of Budget 2021.

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