Pupils will be hit in row over vacant posts

SECONDARY schools face "inevitable disruption" after the summer holidays as a row rages between government departments over filling vacant promotion posts.

School managers are annoyed over the failure to deliver a promised easing of the ban on filling middle management positions.

The promise was made by Education Minister Mary Coughlan at Easter but her officials are still locked in discussions with the Department of Finance over how much relief can be given.

The delay will lead to many schools opening in late August and early September without year heads, because there is not enough time left to recruit them.

The middle managers are important co-ordinators of a range of programmes such as the Transition Year and Leaving Cert Applied.

Almost two months ago, Ms Coughlan agreed to a "limited alleviation" of the ban on filling key middle-management posts.

But departmental officials are still trying to agree a formula for different-sized second-level schools that will establish a floor below which the number of assistant principals cannot fall. The Irish National Teachers' Organisation is pressing for larger primary schools to be included in the deal.

The Irish Independent has learned that the discussions centre on assistant principals only -- special duties teachers are not included.

But schools said last night that even if details were thrashed out within the next few days, it is too late to fill the posts before the schools re-open after the summer.

National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals director Clive Byrne said many of the candidates for the posts will either be on exam duty or on holidays next month, so holding interviews would be extremely difficult.

Ferdia Kelly, general secretary of managers' representative body, the Joint Managerial Body, said they looked forward to the promised alleviation. But he added that it was regrettable it was coming so late. He said disruption at the start of the school year was inevitable.

The moratorium was introduced to reduce the €500m bill for allowances and promotion posts paid annually to primary and second level teachers.

Exemptions

Principal and deputy principal posts were exempt, but schools have been unable to fill assistant principal posts -- worth €8,520 annually -- and special duties posts, which are worth an extra €3,769.

The situation is complicated by the fact that both the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) and the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) have rejected the Croke Park and had issued directives to members not to undertake duties left vacant by retiring post holders or to agree to those duties being reallocated.

Ciaran Flynn, general secretary of the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools, said alleviation of the moratorium would not have the desired impact unless the unions lifted their directives.

The situation will be discussed by the ASTI towards the end of June after the results of the ballots on the Croke Park pay deal are known.

TUI general secretary Peter MacMenamin said his union would consider the situation once it saw the extent of the department's alleviation.

- John Walshe Education Editor

Irish Independent