Concern over pay outs for suspended teachers

SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has expressed his concern after it was revealed that over £2.5 million pounds in wages, national insurance and pension contributions has been paid to suspended school teachers in the past five years.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Jul 2010, 16:37 BST
Updated 27th Jul 2010, 16:04 BST

The WELB paid 585k, SELB 816k, the BELB 735k, the the SEELB 212k and the NEELB 199K. The figures were released after the SDLP tabled a question in the Assembly.

Mr Ramsey said: “It is quite apparent to me that this costly system of leaving teachers in limbo doing nothing on full pay is failing badly.

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“If a teacher is incompetent, unprofessional, ineffective or simply not up to the job there should be no barriers to their removal. They should simply be dismissed from their post permanently, reassigned or given the appropriate training quickly. It does not make sense for them to stay at home doing nothing at excessive cost to the taxpayer, especially when schools have to bring in substitute cover, effectively paying twice.

“At the same time though there are obviously many reasons why teachers are suspended and in the most serious cases a neutral suspension from their duties is clearly the only option.

“For example, if a teacher is facing charges of physical or sexual misconduct it would be inappropriate for them to remain on the premises whilst investigations are carried out, for the protection of children, other teachers or school property.

“Precautionary suspensions are only acceptable in these cases and lengthy, costly, enforced absences should be the exception rather than the rule.”

Related topics:FoyleSDLP