As a society, we have much to be proud of in our education system. We continue to have a teaching force which is talented and dedicated and although there has been decline in interest in secondary teaching, our teaching corps continues to be drawn from the best and the brightest. Morale within the profession remains generally high and there is not the sense, as in England and Wales, that it has been crushed by a government which has not held it in due regard. The Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll earlier this year, showed a high level of public satisfaction with both teachers and the education system.
But there are few grounds for complacency. One in 10 of our children still leaves primary school with significant literacy problems. There is a sense in which the education system is very good for about 80 per cent of the population but making little impact on those in most need. A significant minority of pupils still leave school without the Leaving Certificate and participation at third level by disadvantaged students and mature students still remains very poor. The report in today's editions about the widespread use of unqualified teachers, is also worrying as it suggests a serious lapse in strategic education planning. How can the public be confident of achieving real change in education if we cannot plan properly for the future?
The education agenda is likely to be dominated for several months by threats of industrial action as the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) pursues its 30 per cent pay claim. Secondary teachers have rejected the national pay deal, the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF) and their 30 per cent claim is now at arbitration but seems likely to be rejected.
The Government is now faced with an awkward dilemma. Any concession to the ASTI on the pay front could present difficulties for the other teaching unions who have supported the PPF. But rejection could see secondary teachers embark on a long campaign of industrial action. In the early stages, this will probably consist of one-day strikes but there remains the possibility of disruption to next year's examinations. As an election nears, the ASTI action will present the government with a very significant challenge.
But the coming months will also be a significant challenge for the ASTI. The union has resolved many of its internal squabbles and now appears more united. Its television campaign highlighting the multiplicity of skills required by the modern teacher is useful and timely. But if the secondary teachers embark on industrial action, without the support of the other teaching unions, they could damage the very high esteem in which teachers are held. This will be specially true if examinations are disrupted.