The growing threat of school closures due to industrial action is yet another sign that disruption at the beginning of the school year is becoming an annual trend, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins.
The Dublin South Central TD said, “every year, children, parents and school staff seem to return to school in September faced with another crisis.”
“One year it is school transport chaos, another it is shortages of teachers and SNAs, a lack of special education places or schools struggling to meet their basic running costs. Now, just weeks into the new school year, families are facing the prospect of schools closing because of industrial action,” she noted, and warned that “this cannot be the new normal.”
Cummins was speaking as teachers overwhelmingly voted for industrial action, with INTO and ASTI members beginning action from October 5th and strike action planned for October 14th.
“Whatever way the government tries to frame this dispute, the prospect of schools closing should concentrate minds around the Cabinet table,” she said.
The Soc Dems education spokesperson said “the government cannot continue dealing with problems in education only when they reach crisis point. We need to address the core issues that are putting enormous pressure on our education system like recruitment and retention, the cost of living, teacher shortages, inadequate school funding and the increasing workload being placed on school staff.”
Cummins noted “we are already struggling to recruit and retain teachers, particularly in areas where housing and living costs make it increasingly difficult for young teachers to establish themselves. These problems do not disappear simply because a new school year begins.”
“There is still an opportunity to prevent this disruption. The government must meaningfully engage to resolve this dispute, but it also must recognise the bigger picture. Unless it finally gets to grips with the underlying problems facing our education system, we will continue to find ourselves having the same conversations every September and October.
“Education cannot continue to operate from crisis to crisis. The Minister for Education and the Government must show that they have a long-term plan to properly staff, resource and support our schools.”