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Patsy McGlone
29th November 2010
MCGLONE: RUANE FAILING NEWLY
QUALIFIED TEACHERS
SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone has criticised Education Minister
Caitríona Ruane for her mismanagement of substitution cover for teachers
which has prevented newly qualified teachers gaining experience and work in
the profession.
Mr McGlone said: “In her four years in office Caitríona Ruane has done
absolutely nothing to improve the employment prospects of newly qualified
teachers.
“The recent report from the Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee reveals
that there are still over two and a half thousand newly qualified teachers
who have never got a full-time position.
“The Assembly has recommended that the Department of Education initiate a
programme to employ young teachers for an initial year of work after they
graduate as this would hugely strengthen their job prospects. However,
Minister Ruane has ignored this recommendation and has left many young
teachers in a catch-22 situation.
“Newly qualified teachers are desperately seeking teaching opportunities in
order to gain experience for full time posts, but are being prevented from
getting into these positions due to mismanagement of substitution cover by
the Minister.
“The SDLP believe that all sickness leave and temporary vacancies should be
filled by young teachers with immediate effect in order to address this
crisis.
“Not only would this benefit young teachers, but it would also lead to huge
savings at a time when the education budget is under severe pressure.
“It must also be recognised that teaching can be a very stressful occupation
and the levels of sickness absence in the teaching profession further
reinforce the need for a teachers’ heath and wellbeing strategy to be
produced which could help to reduce the bill for sickness absence.
“It would be a huge loss to education in Northern Ireland if the drive,
abilities and energies of bright young teachers were to be lost due to a
systemic failure.
“The Minister must take this problem seriously and tackle it with effective
measures as a matter of urgency.”
ENDS
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