A Rathmore teacher has been elected as the new president of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland.

Donal Cremin, teaches Technical Graphics, Engineering and Civic, Social and Political Education at Scoil Phobail Luachra.

Mr Cremin began his term as ASTI President on Thursday this week.

He will focus on making second-level teaching a more attractive career for young people during his term.

“Young teachers are voting with their feet and moving abroad or out of teaching for more sustainable careers,” he said.
“Enhancing the attractiveness of second-level teaching means reducing the cost of entry to teaching, providing recently qualified teachers with increased job security, shortening the 25-year salary scale, improving career-path opportunities for classroom teachers, and addressing teacher workload. These are some of my priorities for the coming year.”

He also said the ASTI has expressed serious concerns to the Department of Education and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) about aspects of the redevelopment of the Senior Cycle.

Certain proposed changes to the teaching, learning and assessment of Senior Cycle subject specifications are out of step with real-world challenges, said the ASTI President. These challenges include the impact of AI and the fact that second-level schools are under-resourced.

“Teachers are passionate about their students and about the subjects they teach. What is taught, how it is taught and the resources available to students and teachers really matter. Teachers will engage positively when they know that students’ learning will benefit and that the proposed changes will work in terms of implementation in the classroom,” he adde