Sir, – There has been much discussion of the poor standard of maths-teaching in Irish schools but the real scandal lies in the absence from the curriculum of the essentials of a modern, computer-based economy.
Our highly paid, under-worked teachers fail to offer our children keyboard skills or any computer language (eg, HTML) and I have no doubt that ASTI would fight to the death any effort to require teachers to acquire the necessary skills and to extend teaching hours to add these subjects.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn should insist on the necessary steps to introduce these subjects and slash the salaries of any teachers who refuse to co-operate.
Vast numbers of people in the private sector have had to work harder and smarter to survive the economic implosion – it’s time the teachers joined them. – Yours, etc,