Call for school inspectors to go back into classrooms

As staff shortages bite due to Covid-19 and self-isolation, there are calls for Norma Foley, the Minister for Education, to send inspectors in as substitute teachers

Three Fianna Fáil politicians have called on Minister for Education Norma Foley to make the 105 school inspectors in her department available to work as substitute teachers. Picture: RollingNews.ie

Norma Foley is coming under pressure from members of her own party to send her department’s inspectors back into the classroom in response to staff shortages.

Schools are scrambling to find substitute teachers to replace the thousands of staff who have either contracted Covid-19 or have to isolate as a close contact.

Three Fianna Fáil politicians with teaching qualifications – Cathal Crowe, a Clare TD, Pádraig O’Sullivan, the Cork North Central TD, and Fiona O’Loughlin, ...