§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in view of the fact that one to two-day courses for teachers are ineligible for substitute cover, and the implications for health and safety standards, he will review the operation of substitute teacher regulations in primary schools in Northern Ireland with particular regard to allowing primary school principals to obtain a substitute teacher in the first and second day of absence.
§ Dr. MawhinneyA review of the substitution provision is being carried out by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.
The teachers regulations provide that:
- in the case of primary schools with three or fewer teachers full substitute cover is provided;
- in the case of schools with an average daily enrolment of 222 pupils or fewer substitute cover is provided after the first day of a teacher's absence or from the first day if a teacher's absence is a planned absence of mor than one day's duration; and
- in all other schools substitute cover is provided after the second day on which a teacher is absent or from the first day of absence if the teacher's absence is a planned absence of more than two days' duration.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many representations from trade unions and individual teachers he received concerning the implementation of the substitute teacher regulations in primary schools.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Northern Ireland Teachers Council has raised the matter of substitution cover at the Negotiating committee on Teachers Salaries and302W Conditions of Service. Representations have also been made by the National Association of Head Teachers and by individual teachers of two primary schools.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial savings have been made by the Department of Education by the implementation of substitute teacher regulations in primary schools in Northern Ireland since September 1987.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe information is not available in the form requested. However, in the period 1 September 1987 to 31 March 1988 compared with the corresponding period last year the number of days on which substitutions were employed in all schools, decreased by 25,000. This represents an estimated financial saving of £1.5 million, but this may not be wholly attributable to the introduction of the new substitutes provisions.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much per day it costs the Department of Education to employ a substitute teacher in a primary school in Northern Ireland.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe information is not available in the form requested. However, the current average daily salary and associated employer's superannuation and national insurance contributions is £59.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many substitute teachers were employed in primary schools in each of the education and library boards in Northern Ireland in each academic year from 1980–81 to 1987–88;
(2) what percentage of the primary education budget was allocated to the employment of substitute teachers in the primary sector in Northern Ireland in each academic year from 1980–81 to 1987–88.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the salary cost in the financial year 1987–88 (the only year for which figures are available) as a percentage of the total provisional expenditure on primary schools is 4.3 per cent.