NW teachers are being worn out
A UNION leader says teachers are being worn out by hiked workloads and worry over the uncertain merger of local education boards as the Sentinel today reveals 229 teachers in the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) were off on long-term sick during the last academic year.
The main reason for long-term absence was “stress/other psychiatric illnesses.” This was followed by other or unclassified reasons; genito-urinary and gynaecological; and injuries or fractures.
Avril Hall-Callaghan of the Ulster Teachers’ Union (UTU) said the negotiation of a work-load agreement last year was an attempt to “reduce stress brought about by excess work.”
But uncertainty over the stalled Education and Skills Authority (ESA) and cuts to WELB backroom and support staff is affecting classrooms. See page 5.