THE decision to implement the Fitness to Teach programme during the summer months is causing “resentment and cynicism” among the teaching community, according to a prominent Mid West politician and teacher.
Meelick-based Fianna Fáil Councillor Cathal Crowe believes that, in an effort to avoid confrontation, the Government purposely announced this new initiative when most teachers are on holiday.
Cllr Crowe, who has been a national school teacher for the past decade, said: “I don’t have a problem with there being standards set in teaching, we need to have a high standard at all times. What they’re bringing in is in haste and without proper and effective consultation with teachers. A lot of teachers will resent the way this is being brought in by the Minister.”
The Fitness to Teach programme, announced on Monday by Education Minister Richard Bruton, enables any person, including a member of the public, an employer or a teacher to make a complaint to the Teaching Council about a registered teacher. Complaints will be possible under a number of headings, including professional misconduct or poor professional performance.
Minister Bruton said that the process would provide assurance to the public, including parents, students and other teachers and affirm confidence in the teaching profession in the long run.
While Cllr Crowe is supportive of the Government’s attempts to regulate the teaching profession, he remains sceptical about the programme’s implementation.
“I know the Minister will say that this has been mooted for many years but it’s happened at a time of the year when teachers are off duty and there’s quite a lot of cynicism among teachers about the way that has happened.”
” The Dáil is going on holiday and the teachers are already on holiday so the only reaction you’ll hear now is probably on the Joe Duffy show. It’s never a good time to introduce anything new.”
Regarding the implications of the programme, he said he is concerned that it may lead to “vexatious complaints” from members of the public.
“There needs to be safeguards in place. Any arbitrary body like this needs to hold teachers to account but also needs to protect teachers and protect the integrity of what they do each day.”
These concerns were echoed by Peter Quinn, Limerick Committee Representative for the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI), “”I would hope it doesn’t lead to petty grievances or petty complaints by parents, that’s the one thing I would hope it doesn’t lead to,” he said.
