By Melissa Towellmelissatowell13@hotmail.com 

Local SDLP Education Spokesperson Councillor Brenda Stevenson has called on the Minister to formulate a strategy which would bring these teachers into full-time teaching over the next three years.

 

She said: “It is totally unacceptable that 3176 female and 695 male teachers have not yet gained full time employment.  The Minister must take urgent steps to redress this situation. In fact, the Minister has already recommendations on her desk in the form of the Curran Enquiry which would make significant steps to eradicate this situation.

 

 “On September 17 2007, in response to a question my SDLP colleague Dominic Bradley asked on the progress made in reducing the number of teachers on the substitute teachers’ roll who have not yet been in full-time employment in teaching, the Minister told him that her sports and languages programme for primary schools offer another means for newly qualified teachers to gain experience of working in schools.

Furthermore, she advised the assembly that it should be recognised that teachers trained here have the opportunity to apply for teaching posts in the South of Ireland, England, Wales, and

Scotland, where they are highly regarded.

This is an answer from a so-called Republican Minister. To suggest that our young teachers take the emigration boat to

England to gain employment is a total affront to them.

 “Three of the recommendations in the Curran Enquiry would help reduce the pressure on current teaching principals and indeed make way for our young teachers to get full time permanent posts without having to leave on the emigration boat.