TUI conference

Who?Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI)
Where?Great Northern Hotel, Bundoran, Co Donegal
When?Today until Thursday.
Membership:Close to 14,000 at second and third level.
Delegates:400 plus

In a nutshell?The union has concentrated on tackling classroom discipline.

Their work paid off when Mary Hanafin, published a bill this year designed to make it easier for secondary schools to expel and suspend disruptive pupils.

Members are again in confident mood. A union with a strong team of senior officials, TUI members believe they have generated momentum by leading the way on national issues.

Main Issues?

Discipline will again be the main focus of congress.

Mary Hanafin may point to the new Bill as evidence of progress in this area, but the union feels that this did not go far enough in asserting the rights of teachers and hard-working students.

Members feel one unruly student can disrupt things for everyone, and that the problem is having a major impact on the welfare of teachers. The union believes that behavioural support services, which should provide intense support to individual students, should be extended.

They also want improved teacher-pupil ratios, training in classroom management, staged intervention, a charter of rights and responsibilities and an induction module for all first year pupils. They believe that extra resources would allow time for tutors and year heads to concentrate on pastoral care of students.

Resources for disadvantaged and special needs students will also be an important topic. The TUI says schools are having difficulty financing psychological assessments for students, and that the service is chronically underfunded by the Department.

Members are also concerned that some schools are not taking on their fair share of students with behavioural or educational difficulties. The union believes certain schools contrive not to take on students with special educational needs, placing a burden on a small number of public sector schools.

Resources to cater for non-Irish national students will also be high on the agenda. With the number of foreign students reaching the 100 mark in some schools and representing 20 per cent of pupils in some cases, the TUI feels that more needs to be done to provide them with help.

They want to see more language classes introduced for those whose first language is not English.

The need for teacher unity will also be discussed, with a motion advocating the possible establishment of a federation of teacher unions also being put forward by the ASTI and INTO.

Finally, there are growing concerns about productivity-linked pay agreements and particularly the way in which national agreements affect the working conditions of various union members.

Overall view of Mary Hanafin?

The view of members is that Mary Hanafin tends to raise hopes but only to dash them.

While acknowledging that some progress has been made, she is seen as very quick to announce initiatives but not as quick to follow up with the required resources.

Members credit her for doing more than her predecessors on discipline.

However, she is criticised for her lack of action on class sizes at second level. Members are also highly critical of what they see as a very poor overall investment in education compared to other countries, especially in the context of a booming economy.

Behind the scenes?

Speculation again surrounds the future of veteran general secretary Jim Dorney. Two senior lieutenants - Declan Glynn and John MacGabhainn - are monitoring events. The conference could be important here - particularly if it allows the entire TUI membership to elect the next general secretary.

Members will also be chatting about the prospects for former president Paddy Healy in the Seanad elections.

But is there any fun? You bet - TUI members work and play hard. Today's session runs until 9.15pm, but, on past form, few will retire early!

Mark Roddenwill be reporting from Bundoran