The 15 ETB Schools and 5 Youthreach Centres under the direct management of Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) will not be impacted by any of the proposed strike action announced by ASTI (the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland), scheduled for implementation from October to December of this year.
This is because the majority of teachers who work in the schools and centres under the management of Donegal ETB are members of TUI (Teachers’ Union of Ireland).
The TUI negotiated the implementation of revised salary arrangements over two phases in 2017 and 2018.
The effect of this will be to assimilate new entrants to teaching onto a single new salary scale which will incorporate the honours primary degree allowance.
Meanwhile, ASTI members have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action over lower pay for recently qualified teachers and the worsening of ASTI members’ terms and conditions.
The 15 schools under the management of Donegal ETB and who will not be affected by the strike actions are:
Abbey Vocational School – Donegal Town
Coláiste Ailigh – Letterkenny
Coláiste na Carraige – Carrick
Coláiste Phobail Cholmcille – Tory Island
Crana College – Buncrana
Deele College – Raphoe
Errigal College – Letterkenny
Finn Valley College – Stranorlar
Gaelcholaiste Chinaél Eoghain – Buncrana
Gairmschoil Mhic Diarmada – Arranmore Island
Garimscoil Chú Uladh – Cloghan
Magh Ene College – Bundoran
Moville Community College – Moville
Mulroy College – Milford
St. Catherine’s Vocational School – Killybegs
Ms Anne McHugh, Chief Executive Donegal ETB, stated; “We are delighted that the TUI, the union representing teachers within our schools, has negotiated a package with the Department of Education and Skills.”
“We are also pleased that our schools have embraced the implementation of the new Junior Cycle and that all our students are currently studying the new syllabis and presenting work for the new forms of assessment.”
“I want to acknowledge the professionalism of our teachers in responding to change within our schools. I am also pleased that there will be no disruption to our education service for all our students and their parents.”
The first cohort of Junior Cycle students studying the revised syllabus in English will sit the examination paper devised by the State Examinations Commission in June 2017 in all of the 15 Donegal ETB schools. This will be followed by new examinations in Science and Business Studies in June 2018 and other subjects in a phased roll out in subsequent years.
Details of the strike schedule can be found by clicking here.
