Teachers’ strike and assessment
Senator Leyden calls for the Education Minister to engage with striking unions and reconsider junior-cycle assessment arrangements, arguing that school closures and uncertainty are harming pupils and families. Other Senators dispute his characterisation of the negotiations.
We all wish to be associated with the expression of sympathy to the family of the young man who died in the vicinity of Leinster House.
Will the Leader of the House request the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to come to the House to outline exactly the position on her intransigence in the negotiations with the teachers unions, the TUI and ASTI? There are 27,000 teachers and 350,000 students who are out today.
Comment on this
There are 730 schools closed today. I do not see why the Minister has to follow the policies of the former Minister, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. She is a new Minister and she could reassess the situation. My knowledge of dealing with teachers - there are some teachers in this House - is that they are asking how, given that they live in communities, they can give a fair assessment of someone whom they know personally and whose family, relations and neighbours they also know. One must realise it is impractical. If the Cathaoirleach was given the task of assessing the 59 Senators here and it was based on-----
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Would the Cathaoirleach like to have that task? I take it he would. We would be so anxious to please him that we would hardly ever oppose him. If 40% of our re-election prospects depended on his assessment, we would be particularly anxious to keep him happy.
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The point is this. We should have some flexibility in this regard. If the teachers say "No," will the Minister not listen to or respect the word?
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They are the experts in the field whose concern is for pupils. I have spoken to teachers in this regard and they are the advocates for pupils, not their judge, jury and executioner. Let us have a reasonable approach from the intransigent Minister. It is so unfair that 350,000 pupils are at home today. Their parents must cater for them and do not know exactly what will happen in January.
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Leaving certificate pupils have also been affected. I ask the Minister-----
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-----to speak to teachers and have the remaining 40% externally examined. It is the crunch issue.