Page 6 - elgazette/ELG1812

NEWS .

Irish Tefl teachers’ terms slammed as

Senate debate new regulations

By Matt Salusbury is widespread bogus self-
Irish senator Lynn Ruane,has employment’. Non-native speaker
condemned the ‘terrible teachers were frequently paid
conditions under which English lower wages, the senator claimed.
language teachers… are working’ Roy Hassey, of trade union
in the country. Unite, told the Gazette that they UNITE THE UNION, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
The independent senator had ‘been working on this over the
was speaking during debate last year’ with Senator Ruane and
on the Qualifications and others on the left.
Quality Assurance (Education Unite, which has been
and Training) Bill 2018. This building membership among
empowers the regulator, Quality & English language teachers, hopes
Qualifications Ireland (QQI), to amendments will be proposed
scrutinise the financial capacity of in November. These include a
ELT providers, but omits mention Fair Employment Mark to ensure
of employment law compliance. language schools comply with
In her speech, Ruane recounted employment law and to establish
how Parliament’s Education a teacher protection fund to cover
Committee had ‘received accounts teachers’ wages in the event of a
of teachers receiving no contract school’s closure. Senator Raune’s
for their work despite working for office told the Gazette there is
the same provider for years.’ an opportunity for this at the
‘Zero and low-hour contracts next Committee stage of the Bill,
are the norm,’ she said, ‘as which is expected to pass before Members of Unite the union protest terms and
Christmas 2018. conditons of English teachers at a protest outside
Unite’s submission to the DCAS school Dublin, October 2018
Education Committee included
the example of Limerick school to the employment conditions of association Marketing English in
LISC/Lanlearn. This closed employees of the institutions with Ireland (MEI) said, ‘It is part of
suddenly in March 2018, after which we engage’. MEI membership… that a school
its owner ‘absconded…[and] The Bill ‘will require providers is compliant with all details of Irish
teachers and staff were left with to be compliant with national legislation regarding taxation,
one month’s unpaid wages’. legislation, including employment health and safety, and employment
QQI communications manager law. Alleged breaches of law.’ He added that, ‘in the event
Grainne Mooney told the Gazette: employment law come under the of any individual feeling that their
‘the remit of QQI, as stated under remit of the Workplace Relations rights or entitlements are in any
its establishing legislation and Commission.’ way infringed, then there are state
Irish Senator as envisaged in the amended David O’Grady, CEO of mechanisms available to them to
Lynn Ruane
Bill… does not currently extend accredited language schools seek redress.’

newsinbrief

DEMAND FOR EFL TEACHER FINED INDIA’S VP SICK TAKE EFL LESSONS DANES WANT GRADS
courses are up in Cuba. for ‘help’ with test. of English? India’s vice to play for EFL. to stay and work.
Language schools in An elementary English president Venkaiah Learning English is Denmark plans to make it
Havana are seeing an language teacher in Naidu has condemned essential for foreign easier for its recent non-
increase in enrolments, the USA has been the influence of English footballers looking for EU graduates to stay and
driven by a growth in suspended without on Indian culture. The work in the EFL (English work in Denmark after
high-paying private pay and fined $750 Times of India translated Football League). graduation, University
sector jobs, particularly in after allegedly helping Naidu’s words as ‘English French football legend World News reports. The
tourism jobs. One state- students with the is not illness, but English Zinedine Zidane – tipped Ministry of Immigration is
run language school told State’s maths tests. mind is illness. …as we as a possible future to publish a list of fields
Local10.com growth has Maria Munoz-Sobrino picked up the English Manchester United with skills shortages
been consistent since of Lakeland, Florida language, we also manager – has ‘started and minimum salary
diplomatic relations with ‘did not contest the developed an English learning English to ensure thresholds for post-
the US were restored in allegations’ that she mind. …this is not in the he’s prepared if United study work visas will be
2015 and ‘Trump’s policy explained test items and national interest.’ do decide to hire him,’ reduced.
hasn’t changed the gave ‘clues... and hints’ according to the Sun.
demand’. to ELL students.

6 November/December 2018

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