Up to 2,000 teachers may face the prospect of losing their jobs next year under radical cost-cutting measures to be proposed by the Department of Education.

This is according to an article in the Sunday Times, which claimed such a move would make up five per cent of the 2.2 billion euros of budget reductions ordered by Finance Minister Michael Noonan and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin.

The publication warned these cuts are likely to further increase the pupil to teacher ratio in both primary and secondary schools, while deputy general secretary of the Teachers' Union of Ireland Annette Dolan stated it will lead to less subject choice at the second level.

She described the proposals are "disturbing" and added that "in times of economic crisis you should be investing in education, not cutting it".

Previously, Ms Dolan had warned fewer educators would lead to essential subjects such as physics and maths being badly affected, as schools have to make tough decisions to cope with a drop in resources.

Written by Donal Walsh
 

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