Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 7 March 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills

The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion

Ms Moira Leydon:

Absolutely. That is the fundamental problem. We have not given sufficient attention to what Covid-19 taught us about the capacity, as Ms Maniti alluded to very eloquently. When schools had to shut, schools, teachers and teams of teachers had to engage in delivery of learning online. It was very stressful but, on the other hand, it was liberating because they discovered there were other ways to teach, as well as being in the classroom. There needs to be a stronger dialogue between all of the parties, including trade unions, about how we can have permanent posts for teachers, with all of the important security that brings to their professional life and progressing in their career, and availability to schools of the proper number of staff to put on a wide curriculum. That is a debate which is evaded, unfortunately.