University lecturers in Ireland have rejected their government's request for them to form part of governmental contingency plans designed to counteract teacher's strikes in secondary schools.
Approximately 620 of Ireland's schools stood empty yesterday as their 16,500 teachers began a new series of six one-day strikes today, which leave up to 65,000 pupils preparing for their school leaving certificate examinations without staff to supervise them.
The strikes follow the rejection last week of the Labour Court's recommendation over the teachers' 30% pay claim. When the strikes were announced, education minister Michael Woods said he was "aghast" at the move, but promised to ensure key state exams will go ahead.
In order to do so, Ireland's department for education had hoped that university lecturers and primary teachers would step in to first supervise and then mark pupil's exams. Both groups are refusing to cooperate with arrangements for oral and practical examinations due to begin later this month and written exams in June.
The Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU), which represents 2,000 of Ireland's university staff gave the department for education a cool response. Marnie Holborow, the president SIPTU's education branch said that any request from the government to mark exams would be turned down by its members.
While the Irish federation of university teachers has not yet formulated a formal response, the Irish Times has reported that most members would be against filling the gap left by the striking teachers.
If university lecturers and primary teachers continue to refuse to step forward, the government will have to advertise with the hope of recruiting from the graduate sector.
