Seven teaching posts to be axed in Co Longford

Seven teaching posts are expected to be lost in Longford after cuts to guidance counselling services in second level schools were introduced under the Government’s austerity measures last December. The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) estimates that the posts will be lost next September when the new school year begins.

“As it stands now, schools have an additional entitlement to guidance provision which is based on the number of students in a school,” a spokesperson said, adding that if the posts were to be maintained.

However, it would have to be sustained from the general teaching provision to schools. “TUI is calling for some measure of alleviation for the worst affected schools because these cuts will leave school principals with some harsh choices - they will have to choose between cutting back guidance provision, limiting subject choice, increasing class sizes or a combination of such measures. This latest cut to an education system already ravaged by a litany of cuts will result in significant further damage to the interests of students.”

The TUI is calling for a review of the effects that the cuts will have in schools with “some measure of alleviation” for the worst affected. “Students only get one chance - the cutting of teacher numbers is a tax on the future of our young people,” the spokesperson concluded.