Kelly's praise for teachers over role played in re-opening schools 

The Government must acknowledge the role played by teachers in re-opening schools and as part of the Leaving Cert calculated grades process and end the two-tier pay system ended according to Alan Kelly TD, Leader of the Labour Party. 
 
The Portroe native said: “The Government needs to show they are serious about acknowledging the pivotal role played by teachers in the safe re-opening of our schools and in Leaving Cert 2020.  Never in the history of the State was so much expected of the teaching profession. Teachers have really stepped up to the mark over the last six months whether it was in re-opening the schools surrounded by the threat of Covid-19 or in adjudicating their own students state examinations. It is only right that the Government acknowledges the additional workload and stress that this placed on teachers.
 
“I am backing the calls for the Government to end the unfairness of the two-tier pay system as part of Budget 2021. The two-tier pay system is driving people away from teaching and unless it is addressed the Government will continue to have difficulty in filling vacant teaching posts. I am backing the call by the Labour Party Education Spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin for the Minister for Education to seek to end the two-tier pay system as part of the Budget.
 
 “The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a light on many of the inequalities in society including in the teaching profession. The pivotal role played by teachers as part of the reopening of schools and in the successful delivery of the calculated grades process needs to be acknowledged. I am calling on the Government to end the two-tier pay system to properly acknowledge the important role played by teachers during the Covid crisis.”