Special Needs Assistants (SNAs ) have begun a work-to-rule this week in Kilkenny following a meeting of 60 of the 100 (approx ) SNAs in Kilkenny on Tuesday night.
The action has caused some controversy amongst teachers and school management who are angry to be left picking up the pieces in the classrooms.
The work-to-rule was agreed following recent public sector pay cuts, and also in protest at the decision to cull up to 10 per cent of SNAs in Kilkenny schools from today (Friday ). Already in Kilkenny at least one mainstream school has lost three SNAs while one special school has lost two, and other SNAs have had hour reductions.
A government review of the need for SNAs is currently being carried out by the department and where the examiner believes an SNA is not required, the position will be cut from today.
SNAs work with children with special needs in both mainstream schools and the three special schools in Kilkenny. They make it possible for many children with special needs to attend mainstream schools because of the help they receive from their SNA. This integration programme was encouraged by the government and the resources to implement it were made available to the children and schools. However, these resources are now being stripped from schools and the children are being left to fend for themselves in some cases.
Glyn Carolan SNA and regional spokesperson for IMPACT - the trade union representing SNAs, told the Kilkenny Advertiser that they are very aware that their action is going to affect children with special needs but they feel compelled to take the action.
“Unfortunately, our backs are to the wall. This is very upsetting for SNAs in general. I know SNAs who have left school crying this week because of reaction from school management. The children are going to suffer and this is not right. We are very apologetic to the children and the parents but we have to start thinking of ourselves. We have lost 12 per cent of our salaries since last year and none of our jobs are secure. We have the salaries of a grade three clerical officer and we have no job guarantee,” he added.
The work to rule will mean that an SNA will not stay in the classroom without the presence of a teacher. There will be no cooperation in school activities unless the teacher is present. No physiotherapy or exercise will be carried out on the child without the presence of the teacher. An SNA will not get into the swimming pool with a child and all good will is to be withdrawn outside school activities ie, administrative duties often carried out by SNAs for teachers.
Already a number of SNAs have lost their jobs from schools in Kilkenny - both from special schools and mainstream schools.
IMPACT has written to the Minister for Education, Batt O’Keefe TD, seeking clarity on the proposed reduction of Special Needs Assistants (SNA ) posts on January 31. The union estimates that based on figures released in June 2009, as many as 1,200 posts will be lost nationally.
Already a number of SNAs have lost their jobs from schools in Kilkenny - both from special schools and mainstream schools.
IMPACT has written to the Minister for Education, Batt O’Keefe TD, seeking clarity on the proposed reduction of Special Needs Assistants (SNA ) posts on January 31. The union estimates that based on figures released in June 2009, as many as 1,200 posts will be lost nationally.
In a letter sent to the minister IMPACT official Philip Mullen said that the department has so far failed to give any clarity on the number of posts affected. “I have attempted to seek clarity on precisely how many of these vital posts might be lost. However, no answer has been forthcoming from the department. We view reductions of this scale as a most serious matter and consider them to be compulsory redundancies under the terms of our ballot for industrial action taken in October 2009,” he said.
Mr Mullen suggested that arrangements be extended for these posts until the end of the school year, in order to allow the current review to be completed.
“In doing so, you would minimise the disruption to students in the middle of the school year,” he said.
