O'Keeffe vows to help schools recoup lost days

EDUCATION Minister Batt O'Keeffe's officials have met teachers representatives about recouping lost class days for exam students after the icy weather led to school closures. Mr O'Keeffe revealed a number of schools remained shut but efforts were also being made to examine how teachers could help make up the lost school days.

"In terms of days lost we have a system in place whereby if the board of management closes a school that they effectively ensure that the time can be made up.

"I've asked my officials to meet with the education partners, to look at what serious steps need to be taken in terms of exam pupils together in partnership and how we can minimise any impact the days off from school might have," said Mr O'Keeffe.

Speaking in Dublin at the RDS, the minister suggested there may be space for additional class days at the end of term when students usually were allocated study time for exams.

The Junior and Leaving Certificate will start slightly later than usual this year, on June 9, the first Wednesday after the bank holiday.

It was important any "damage" done to curriculums was repaired, Mr O'Keeffe insisted.

"There's an opportunity there for the teachers to make up time with those classes and particular aspects of subjects maybe they think wasn't covered adequately," he said.

Ahead of possible planned strike action by trade unions later this month or in February, the minister also asked teachers to be patient in light of the recent pay cuts.

Mr O'Keeffe argued that teachers had been paid well during the boom years but now needed to make a sacrifice to help the country turn a corner.

"Of course we've impacted on the quality of their life, the amount of money they take home but we also point out that some of these people have been generously looked after in terms of pay increases over that period of time as well.

"We gave increases when the cost of living was going up. Now that the cost is down 6%, that people would have a serious look again with the Government and that they would cooperate and they would see that the sooner we work in partnership, in harmony, the sooner this country would be prosperous again."

The Association for Secondary School Teachers Ireland (ASTI) yesterday confirmed it had discussed the issue of lost class days with the department.

A spokeswoman added: "We have said to the department that where there have been circumstances in the past, teachers have always ensured that curriculums are covered and no student loses out. The same applies in this case."

The ASTI said some schools may have lost one day due to the adverse weather where others could have lost up to three days.