HC Deb 20 March 1908 vol 186 cc926-7
MR. DELANY

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in a case a confidential Report, injurious to either the private or the professional character of a teacher, is sent to the Board of Irish National Education by the manager or the inspector, he will, before any action is taken, cause a public inquiry to be held, in order that the teacher may have an opportunity of defending either himself or herself against such a report.

(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that they cannot undertake to order public inquiries in the class of cases referred to in the Question. The Commissioners have, with the approval of the Lord-Lieutenant, recently made the following regulations which they consider will safeguard the legitimate interests of national school teachers:—Teachers who have declined in efficiency or who have conducted themselves improperly are dealt with as the Commissioners determine. Before serious penal action is taken against a teacher he is afforded an opportunity of forwarding to the Commissioners any statement he may desire to submit in his defence. In no case is a teacher dismissed for inefficiency before he has had ample opportunity of remedying the defects in his teaching which have been reported by the inspectors. In no case is a teacher dismissed for inefficiency on the reports of a single inspector. Before recognition is finally withdrawn his work is tested by means of a thorough inspection of the school as a whole, and an examination of all the standards. This inspection is conducted by one of the senior or chief inspectors, and in the presence of one of the Commissioners if they think it desirable. Should it appear necessary to dismiss a teacher for inefficiency, a formal statement of the grounds on which it is proposed to take action is furnished directly to the teacher. Any representations or explanations which he may submit in his own behalf are carefully considered by the Commissioners before final action is taken. Should a teacher have any well-grounded cause of complaint against the manager or the inspector, he may submit his case in writing to the Commissioners for their consideration.