A chara, - Considering that teachers work for about two-thirds of the 365-day year, coupled with a short working day, a recent assessment placed their hourly pay as being one of the highest in the country.
Yet, despite our very well paid teachers, we are lying second from the bottom of the OECD literacy table, having 23 per cent of our adult population classified as being functionally illiterate. What does that say about our schools and teachers?
It is now more than ever essential that teacher assessment be introduced into our educational system. We all know from our own days at school how we had good teachers and bad teachers, yet nothing has been done to improve that intolerable situation. Does it make logical sense to pay the inefficient, uncaring teacher the same as his dedicated, efficient colleague? And isn't it nonsensical to give a big salary rise to teachers, when we lie ignominiously next to bottom of the European literacy table?
The unions vigorously oppose any form of teacher assessment. I wonder why. Instead of making efforts to improve our educational system, all they appear to be seeking is increased salaries and high supervision pay for their members.
It is high time that we parents got together and asserted our rights in this ongoing dispute, for isn't it our children who are being used as pawns? Let us never forget that our sons and daughters are the Ireland of tomorrow. - Is mise,
Mrs E. GRACE-GLYNN,
River Street,
Sligo.