A Fine Gael proposal to expand the Work Placement Programme to include 2,000 teaching graduate placements in primary and secondary schools from September has been described as a “win-win” scheme.
Fine Gael Seanad education spokesperson, Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, says the initiative would benefit graduates, hard-pressed schools and the State.
“We are in the midst of a jobs crisis and teaching graduates are about to take a hit. Furthermore, schools from September are about to experience increased pupil-teacher ratios. This is an ideal means to counteract that.”
The Oranmore politician says the initiative would be open to qualified teaching graduates who are in receipt of Jobseekers’ Support. It would provide them with an alternative
opportunity to gain work experience.
“There are around 2,000 primary school teacher graduates and 1,000 HDip (secondary ) teacher graduates emerging from university this year. However, as seen by the fact that Batt O’Keeffe is cutting teaching numbers, jobs in education are few and far between.
“It does not make sense to have these fully qualified teachers sitting on the dole when utilising their skills would benefit schools, children and the graduates themselves.”
Senator Healy Eames says the Government has already unveiled plans for its Work Placement Programme which will provide a six-month work experience programme for some people claiming Jobseekers’ Support.
“It would be very easy to expand this programme to include teaching graduates on Jobseekers’ Support. Some 2,000 of these graduates would be given the option of gaining work experience in a school as an alternative to staying on the dole. They would work part-time, say for 10 hours a week, and the rest of their time could be spent engaged in professional development.
“At primary level, graduates could engage in some kind of additional training in special needs, language support and core subjects while also continuing their probationary period, which could be extended over a longer period of time. Clearly, at second level, graduates will have a specific subject area or areas which they specialise in and their skills will be used appropriately across all levels of learning and capability. These graduates could engage in further study or equally could further their skills in whatever subject area they specialise in.”
People involved in this teacher graduate work placement programme would be well placed to be offered temporary or permanent posts when the recruitment ban lifts, she says.
“This plan is a win-win all round. Schools benefit and graduates gain experience. Otherwise graduates will be left on the dole with little hope of gaining a job or earning valuable experience. There is no loss to the Exchequer as the graduates would be claiming Jobseekers’ Support anyway. In education, as in every other sector, jobs must be the priority and this scheme would ensure that is the case.”
