PARENT FURY AT SCHOOL LOCK OUT
Sligo’s largest secondary school is to remain closed indefinitely as the teachers’ strike is set to continue.
Summerhill College could not re- open on Monday after the mid term break to its 800 students after the ASTI withdrew from supervision and substition duties.
Other schools however, were able to open with Ursuline College, the Mercy College, Sligo Grammar School along with St Attractas’s in able to overcome this difficulty.
All secondary schools will be closed today ( Tuesday) as part of the ASTI’s campaign over unequal pay for recently qualified teachers.
A further one day strike is planned for Wednesday week and another two in November with two pencilled in for early December.
A statement from Summerhill College on Monday said each day over 20 teachers were involved in supervision and substitution duties at the college.
“Within the time frame given, it is impossible to recruit, train and Garda Vet a replacement team of supervisors to ensure the same professional and robust high stand- ard of health, safety and welfare provision for students and staff that would normally be in place.”
Concerns are growing for exam students with no end in sight to the strike. These students have been advised by Summerhill’s board of management to download and study examination papers when the school is closed.
FEARS are growing that the county’s biggest secondary school could remain closed indefinitely as the ASTI strike rumbles on.
The school, which has approximately 800 students, couldn’t open on Monday due to the withdrawal by ASTI from supervision and substitution duties.
The board of managment said the school needs 20 teachers to cover such duties and was unable to open in the circumstances.
Teachers turned up at the school on Monday, the first day after the mid- term break but the gates were locked with parents having been informed last week that the school would be unable to re- open.
Other large secondary schools in the area were able to ppen such as the Ursuline, Mercy, Grammar and St Attracta’s. All schools however will be closed today ( Tuesday) as part of the ongoing campaign by ASTI over unequal pay for recently qualified teachers. The other dates include: Wednesday, November 16th, Thursday, November 24th, Tuesday, November 29th, Tuesday, December 6th and Wednesday, December 7th. Parents and exam students will be anxious that the dispute is settled soon. In a statement on Monday, Summerhill College’s board of management advised exam students to study past exam papers.
“We are particularly conscious of the needs of students in exam years and would encourage them to use this time to down- load, access and study past exam papers and exam materials which are available on our new school App,” the statement said.
It said the effect of the ASTI directive meant members, including most principals and deputy principals were not available to carry out essential supervision duties before school in the morning, during break, at lunchtime and at the end of the school day.
In addition members of the ASTI will not be available to substitute for colleagues absent on school business or for colleagues absent on uncertified sick leave. As the largest boys school in the North- West, each day over 20 teachers are involved in supervision and substitution duties at the College ensuring at all times the health, safety and wellbeing of the students in our care.
“Within the time frame given, it is impossible to recruit, train and Garda Vet a replacement team of supervisors to ensure the same professional and robust high standard of health, safety and welfare provision for students and staff that would normally be in place.”