04/08/2015

Internships 'Absolutely Inappropriate' For Trained Teachers - SF

The Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O'Sullivan, has been urged to stop teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) being hired as part of the JobBridge internship scheme.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on education, Jonathan O'Brien, said that internships were "absolutely inappropriate" for trained teachers and SNAs.

"These are professionals who are trained and qualified for teaching and assisting Irish schoolchildren as well as those with specific needs in the case of SNA's. Internships cannot replace the professional training required for the care and education of our children," Deputy O'Brien said.

"These 'internships' are undermining the profession itself, but worst of all, potentially affecting our children who are being exposed to interns who may be untrained and under-qualified. It is disgraceful that this practice is allowed to continue when so many qualified teachers and SNA's currently looking for work. 

"Teachers unions are also strongly opposed to JobBridge. I find it hard to believe that Minister Jan O' Sullivan says that the Department have not control in stopping schools from using this discredited and unregulated intern scheme. She is totally avoiding her responsibility to children, parents and their teachers.

"The Department of Education should pay for teachers and SNA's and not use this JobBridge scheme which has been proven time and time again to be inadequate and exploitative. It is outrageous that this situation is allowed to continue."

(MH)

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