Although many schools opened last week, today marks the beginning of the new school year for thousands of students and for their parents. It is a stressful time, particularly for those facing exams this year or those at the other end of the spectrum who are beginning a school life.
For the first time in three years, there is optimism that disruption can be kept to a minimum at second-level. The ASTI ban on supervision remains in place but school managers appear confident that schools will function normally. This is thanks in large measure to the diligent work of both school principals and their deputies who have worked tirelessly - so far without any additional payment - to ensure that disruption is minimised. The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) is right to demand some compensation for its members, who have been faced with the onerous task of recruiting non-teachers. As the INTO's Mr John Carr points out, primary principals also deserve to be compensated for the additional burden they have carried.
There are now hopeful signs that the ASTI's long war of attrition may be drawing to a close. The union is now adopting a more constructive and conciliatory approach. Its vice-president, Mr Pat Cahill, is to be commended for his call for dialogue with the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey. The president, Mr P J Sheehy and the general secretary, Mr Charlie Lennon, are also anxious to put the relationship between the new minister and the ASTI on a more even keel.
There are still those within the ASTI nursing a grievance about the Government's handling of their pay dispute. But the truth is the union now has little room for manoeuvre. The darkening economic picture means the 13 per cent from benchmarking represents the best - and only - offer on the table. On supervision, many ASTI members who until recently were forced to do supervision without payment will now wonder why the €37 per hour offer is not available to them? At the very least, ASTI should ballot its 17,000 members on the offer , especially now that the payment is to be made pensionable.
At primary level, parents will be dismayed by the report that some 4,000 schools will close for six days this year to allow teachers undergo in-service training. Remarkably, many primary schools will close for one day this week even though they have just re-opened after the long summer break. To make matters worse, parents, who must juggle the conflicting demands of work and home life, are given very little advance warning that their son's or daughter's school is to close. The chief executive of the National Parents Council (primary), Ms Fionnuala Kilfeather, is rightly outraged by this state of affairs. To its credit, the INTO has adopted a progressive stance towards this issue. Mr Dempsey should pick up the baton and end this ludicrous situation.