TUI Lobby for Quality in Education Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

TUI Lobby for Quality in Education Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

What does an Increase in the PTR Mean  A Pupil Teacher Ratio (PRT) increase will have a severe impact on FE/PLC the change by two points from 17: 1 to 19:1 will have  A massive reduction in frontline staffing levels.  It is not just two more students in a class.  It will result in the loss of 200 whole-time equivalent (WTEs) teaching posts  On the ground this represents the loss of up to 500 teachers to the sector.  It will impact most on fixed-term (non-permanent) teachers. Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

The Impact of Changes  Key personnel will be lost to the sector.  Cutting-edge courses currently under development will be cancelled, resulting in a loss of education and training opportunities for the wider economy.  Current courses will close.  There will be a downward spiral of course closures and loss of staff.  Teachers who have never taught in second level being redeployed or transferred to second level schools.  Reduction in places for learners as colleges are forced to work to their CAP. Nationally the sector has enrolled 5,400 above its CAP this year . Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

Who are FE/PLC Students?  The profile of FE/PLC learner has changed nowadays the learner can be:  Anything from the holder of a Ph.D. to a second chance adult learner.  Those who left education during the Celtic Tiger with no formal skills or qualifications seeking employment skills or progression routes back to HE.  Those who are qualified in areas where there are no employment opportunities who need to up-skill and retrain  Those stay-at-home parents with grown up families who wish to train / up-skill in order to re-enter the labour market. Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

The PTR Increase Targets Many Sub Groups  Learners/school leavers who choose PLC schools to undertake particular high quality, specialist courses for example:  Cloud Computing, Ethical Hacking, Computer Networking Engineers, Performing Arts, Green Energy, Art & Design and many more.  The unemployed who wish to retrain/up-skill to re-enter the labour market or start their own businesses.  Vocational Learners who were not ideally suited to mainstream education, because, in many cases, it did not address their particular interests or aptitudes. Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

Case Study In this example we look at an FE/PLC College with an enrolment of 1100 learners. We look at those courses where a subject specialist is required to deliver a specific number of hours tuition. Course Hours Courses Learners Veterinary Nursing Course. 6 2 48 Specialist Computer Courses . 56 8 192 Design andMedia Courses. 56 8 192 Total Impact, hours lost, courses closed, 118 18 432 learners affected. The above example illustrates the immediate impact only and provides no information with respect to the long term effects on areas such as effects on the hours of supporting teachers hours or course development. Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

Impact of the FE/PLC PTR Increase Impact Assessment Current PLC enrolment 2012/2013. 38,000 Currently funded PLC places 2012/2013. 32,600 Number over CAP. 5,400 Effect of the increased PTR. Currently funded PLC places 2012/2013. 32,600 Reduction in provision. 3,400 Number of Funded FE/PLC Places 2013/14. 29,200 Total reduction in PLC places resulting from PTR increase. Numbers taken over CAP. 5,400 Reduction due to PTR Increase. 3,400 Overall Impact. 8,800 Places will be lost Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

Impact on Progression to Higher Education  In 2010 14,680 of all CAO application were FETAC major award holders.  Applying the 23% reduction resulting from the PTR Increase could mean that only 10,780 will feed in to the Higher Education system in 2014.  As a result up to 3,220 FE/PLC participants will lose out on a progressing opportunity.  This will have a knock on effect in IOT’s and Universities. Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

Long-term Impact on the Irish Economy Summary Figures From 2013 FE/PLC will enroll 23% fewer learners – total impact 8,800 23% Reduction learners progressing to HE by September 2014 634 Long-term Impact Resulting from a PTR Increase in FE/PLC Total number of places lost between 2012-2020 70,400 Number of places lost at Level 5 to 2020 55,616 Number of places lost at Level 6 to 2020 14,784 Reduction in awards being offered at Level 6 in 2014 1,571 Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

Governments Action Plan for SOLAS  Paragraph 21 identifies the cost of Further Education.  In 2012 € 430 million was spent on 180,000 funded PLC places. This represents a cost of € 2,500 per PLC place.  Paragraph 25 identifies the cost of FÁS places.  In 2012, € 430 million was spent on 81,500 FÁS places. This represents a cost of € 5,276 per place.  The report identifies that a key aspect of SOLAS is to ensure value for money.  It makes no sense to reduce PLC provision by 23%, when this provision costs considerably less than FAS places as per the Action Plan for SOLAS Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

Governments Action Plan for SOLAS FE/PLC is Value for money Based on the governments published statistics if the PTR decision were reversed the cost of educating and training 70,400 learners between 2012 and 2020 within the FE/PLC structure will save the Irish economy approximately € 195 million over and above the alternative provision within the former FAS structures. Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

What can we in TUI Do?  TUI at national level will continue to meet with the DES, management Bodies and public representatives on this matter. HOWEVER THIS IS A POLITICAL LOBBY CAMPAIGN  It requires the participation of every member of TUI at local level  It requires an organised local political lobby  It requires smart use of local media  Above all else - It needs YOU. Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

THE Local Lobby – Two Parts  For a lobby to have any impact it must hit at local issues. Thus we need a:  Lobby of all local political representatives by each teacher &, if possible, family members  Organised TUI Branch lobby (personal visits to clinics and formal letters)  Student lobby (our students are adults and as such there is no bar on their involvement). Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

The Branch Lobby  The local TUI Branch should:  Appoint a local lobby committee to co-ordinate and oversee the campaign.  Organise a roster of teachers from each centre to meet with TDs and Senators by calling to the local office.  Contact and meet every national and local politician in the area including formal letters to the Mayor, Chair of the Council, Corporation, Town Commission etc.  Consolidate the feedback from members locally and report to TUI National office. Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

The Personal Lobby  TUI members should  Write a personal letter setting out the issues and impact on you, your school and your colleagues. This should be posted.  Use email to write to the leader of each political party setting out the same arguments you set out in the letter.  Email the office of Minister Quinn and Junior Minister Cannon Minister Bruton Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation setting out the issues .  Email the Education Spokesperson for each political party.  Email every independent TD.  Contact all local representatives (Councillors, Mayor etc.)  Secure a commitment from local politicians to raise this issue at national level.  Report the outcome of your lobby back to your TUI branch. Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

Lobby Through Local Media  Use of the media (press and radio) should be strictly coordinated though the TUI branch.  Press statements should be cleared at Orwell Road before publication.  Radio interviews are to be encouraged but careful planning is required. TUI Press office can assist here.   The Union (spokespersons) must at all costs avoid being drawn into suggesting alternative cuts. Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI

Conclusion  This is not simply a TUI Head Office/Executive Committee issue; it affects YOU .  If we are to have any chance of reversing this decision we must garner the support of:  All teachers  Friends, family, students and their families  Community groups, voluntary organisations, business interests  Local media to highlight how the cut will affect local people and the local economy. Gerard Craughwell, President, TUI – 21 January 2013. Contact: president@tui.ie and (086) 0229855