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'Unfair divide between haves and have-nots' as teacher shortage forcing some students to turn to grind schools

The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals wants Minister for Education Joe McHugh to address the shortage of teachers.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of Principals and Deputy Principals has called on the newly appointed Minister for Education Joe McHugh to address the growing teacher shortage which it says is forcing students to attend grind schools.

President of the NAPD Mary Keane said she will highlight the extent of the teacher shortage problem which she says is “the biggest crisis our sector faces” at the organisation’s annual conference today.

“We heard last week that there will be an increase in teachers posts and SNAs, however,  as we embark on yet another school year, the lack of suitably qualified teachers is still a troubling concern with many schools opening without a full complement of staff this year,” Keane said. 

This shortage is creating a socio-economic divide in many classrooms, according to Keane. 

“With substitute teachers or fully qualified teachers in a number of key subjects impossible to find, parents, who are in the fortunate position to be able to do so, are supplementing their children’s education with grind schools.

This is creating an unfair divide between haves and have-nots which undermines the value of our public education system.

Keane added that while the Department had established a Working Group to tackle the teaching crisis, the NAPD is disappointed that no representatives from either the Primary or Post Primary sector is on this Group.

Over 500 second level school leaders are expected to meet at the organisation’s annual conference in Galway’s Galmont Hotel today to discuss the reforms they want in the education system. 

The health and wellbeing of students is also high on the NAPD’s agenda according to Keane who says it wants access to one-to-one mental health counselling for all students, who require these services. 

“Currently, there are lengthy waiting times for students to access these services. 

“This lack of access to vital services places teachers and school leaders in a difficult position. While they continue to support these students, they are not getting the professional health services they need,” Keane concluded. 

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    Mute Briscoe Sundara
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    Mar 15th 2021, 10:36 PM

    Didn’t get far into the article before I got the general gist. Doxxing is perfectly acceptable to one side and not the other…guess which side.

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    Mute Dermot Dinan
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    Mar 16th 2021, 9:38 AM

    @Briscoe Sundara: It is inconceivable that whoever wrote that dross cannot see how bad it is. There’s a paragraph there near the start that try’s to justify Far Left Vs Far Right Doxxing….. Ultimately it says……..

    Far Left Doxxing….. Gooooood, because they’re harassing people on the far right….!!!

    Far Right Doxxing….. Baaad… because they’re harassing people on the far left….!!!

    Can we not all agree…. that you’ll all nuts…. The Nazi’s\racists on the far right and the loons on the far left like the author.

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    Mute Peter Bell
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    Mar 15th 2021, 9:30 PM

    You would need a Pint after reading that carry on.

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    Mute Ned Gerblansky
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    Mar 15th 2021, 10:46 PM

    @Gerard: well this is awkward, didn’t really take long to find one Irish account. https://mobile.twitter.com/antifa_drone

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    Mute Gerard
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    Mar 15th 2021, 10:21 PM

    @An Breasláin Nua: where, specifically, are the people on the left approving of doxxing in any significant number?

    On the other hand, the far right approval is right here…

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    Mute Ned Gerblansky
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    Mar 16th 2021, 9:30 AM

    My comment linking an example of an Irish far left account openly doxxing people on Twitter was removed… The bias here is very concerning.

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    Mute Ned Gerblansky
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    Mar 15th 2021, 11:02 PM

    I think the cut and paste nature of right wing politics from the UK is the main reason it remains on the fringes here. It is extremely sympathetic to imperialism and loyalism, a deal breaker as this is at odds with the views of the vast majority of Irish people who would otherwise agree with others elements e.g. anti abortion.

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    Mute GOOПΞɌΛDΛM
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    Mar 16th 2021, 8:14 AM
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    Mute Rochelle
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    Mar 15th 2021, 10:43 PM

    “the far-right in Ireland is effectively a “copy and paste” groups in the US and Europe. ”

    Very well described! It’s so pathetic how many of them don’t even understand the very basics of Irish politics.
    One of their favourite mantras when they found themselves with a brown taoiseach was to claim he was “unelected” because they could only equate leadership with american style presidential contests.

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    Mute John Lynch
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    Mar 19th 2021, 12:51 PM

    The liberal consensus is creating opposition which it has labelled ‘Far – Right’.
    The leaders might be opportunists looking for a cause and they are finding support from men who are reacting to being vilified, shouted down and discriminated against.

    However the ‘liberal consensus is also well populated by opportunists and as they say “it takes one to know one”.

    There is an economic concept, called the law of diminishing returns in play here. When you have got more than you ever asked for don’t start coming up with new “asks” and historical grievances as supporting facts.

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    Mute Fergal Cussen
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    Mar 15th 2021, 11:24 PM

    The Catholic Church might have been a focal point for earlier generations but it doesn’t have the moral authority that it used to.

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    Mute Fergal Cussen
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    Mar 15th 2021, 11:40 PM

    This was meant to be a response to Ned Gerblansky’s post above.

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