third level numbers make lunacy of cutbacks clear
(11 Nov 2009)
The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has warned that unless the third level sector is insulated from cutbacks, it will not be able to cope with increased demands for its services from students. The crude inflexibility of the moratorium on appointments means that courses are randomly asset stripped of the necessary expertise, and replacement of staff has become an issue of huge bureaucratic complexity, resulting in gaps in provision to students.
TUI represents lecturers in Institutes of Technology.
Speaking today, TUI Deputy General Secretary Annette Dolan said:
“We welcome the increase in students accepting third level places.
The surge makes clear the need to insulate the sector from the kind of retrogressive cutbacks that restrict its progress and thus prevent any chance of economic recovery.
There is growing evidence that rather than being provided with the quality required, students are having to deal with diminished practical and tutorial supports as a result of cutbacks. With hugely increased student interest in science, this is clearly an absurdity and an example of counterproductive policies taking precedence over the much vaunted smart economy.
Particularly, the moratorium on staff recruitment is having a hugely detrimental effect on the services offered to students.
The moratorium is resulting in situations where colleges cannot recruit in growth areas as staffing is set at a level even below that of 2008, regardless of variations in demand. This will obviously impinge on areas which saw a large increase in place acceptances, such as science and computing. The crude inflexibility of the anti-educational application of the embargo means that courses are randomly asset stripped of the necessary expertise, and replacement of vital staff has become an issue of huge bureaucratic complexity, resulting in gaps in provision to students.
While the economic downturn and lack of jobs for school-leavers are clearly key factors in driving these trends, the government needs to recognise the clear positive message of people seeking to upskill.
Our hard earned international academic standing and reputation is in severe danger unless our policymakers recognise our further and higher education sectors as being of key importance in stimulating economic recovery.
The strong demand for college places is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, and the sector needs to be fortified through appropriate funding now.”