Teachers who are taking early retirement in February will be allowed to stay on until the end of the school year in order to prepare their Junior and Leaving Certificate classes for their exams.

The Irish Independent reports that a large number of educators are expected to apply for such packages as they try to ensure their retirement savings and lump-sum payouts will not be affected by recent austerity measures.

Schools have raised concerns that the Croke Park agreement, which will see public sector workers who retire before February next year receive pensions based on their 2009 salary, will lead to a "mass exodus" of experienced teachers.

Therefore, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has agreed teachers who have taken retirement under this scheme will be allowed to come back to the classroom to reduce the impact of the disruption.

However, those who wish to return will not receive their old salary, but will be paid at a lower starting rate introduced for new staff as part of budget cuts.

Meanwhile, teaching unions have also welcomed a statement by Mr Quinn that changes to the number of subjects to be taught at Junior Certificate level will not be implemented until 2014.

Written by Donal Walsh
 

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