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Education Minister Ruairi Quinn today addressed the annual convention of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland in Cork.

The Minister spoke of the "challenges" ahead in the area of Education, and of how the EU/IMF bailout would effect the sector directly. Minister Quinn stressed the importance of regaining economic sovereignty while acknowledging the challenges being faced by teachers everyday:

In forming a National Government we have one overriding objective – by hard work and carrying through difficult decisions, to regain our economic sovereignty...

I also know that you are not insulated from the wider impact of the current recession on those children and families with whom you relate in your daily working life.

You see at first hand the devastation that the economic crisis has brought to families in your communities.

You meet the fall-out from struggling homes in the classroom every day – job losses, reduced salaries and crippling mortgages are all too common a reality.

I want to acknowledge and thank you for the very valuable support, encouragement and stability that you provide in the daily lives of children in your care at a time of great uncertainty.

The Minister addressed the terms of the Croke Park Agreement, highlighting the importance of its implementation:

I think that it is vitally important, and I am sure you will accept, that implementation must be real and meaningful on the ground, bring real value to our education system and that the changes must be clearly visible to pupils and parents.

As you know a fundamental purpose of the changes agreed under the Croke Park Agreement is to provide additional time for schools and teachers to engage in essential activities such as planning without intruding on the tuition time of students.

This has been a major historical deficit within our system and one which we must now deal with for once and for all.

In saying this I do not for a moment take from the tradition of volunteerism among secondary teachers.

This strong tradition of our teachers contributing generously to the many out of school activities such as sports and the arts is one of the strengths of our education system.

The Minister stressed the committment of the Government to protecting frontline education services as much as possible:

In Education the task of managing our budget is complicated by the fact that enrolments will continue to increase over the next few years. 

While the Government is committed to protecting front line education services to the greatest extent possible, we must not underestimate the challenge in doing so against rising enrolments.

The recovery plan provides for a net reduction in teacher numbers in 2011, notwithstanding the need to provide additional posts to meet increased student numbers.

The detail on the measures involved was outlined in the 2011 budget.

These budgetary measures have been notified to schools and will proceed as planned to take effect from September 2011.

The recovery plan also provides for consultation with the education partners in relation to how best to achieve a further reduction in teacher payroll costs from 2012.

In the coming weeks my Department will be inviting the ASTI along with the other relevant partners to work on identifying such savings.

Literacy and numeracy was another focus of the Minister's speech:

Improving literacy and numeracy skills is vital for the future of this country.

The issue is not about whether teaching methods have been adequate in the past or entering any blame game.

Rather what we have to do is work collectively to ensure we do much better in future.

I am heartened and impressed by the response to my Department’s invitation for submissions on the draft literacy and numeracy plan. 

I look forward to the finalisation of the plan in the coming months.

The Minister also addressed the issue of Junior Cycle Reform, as addressed in the Programme for Government, and stated that the system must change:

Our students have to be provided with more active learning opportunities that promote real understanding, creativity and innovation.

We need to make sure that key skills such as literacy, numeracy, critical thinking skills, team working and social skills are firmly embedded within the curriculum.

This is essential if we are to support the growth and development of well-rounded young adults, ready to participate fully in further education, work and society.

Teachers recognise this need for change.

The Minister concluded by highlighting the hope for the future:

I began by setting out the stark realities of our current position as a country.

What you do a teachers in our schools is fundamental to that.

However, we must also be clear that it is by taking the difficult but necessary corrective action on our public finances that we create the hope for the future.

It is what will restore our sovereignty and lead to a brighter future. 

Public services are the cornerstone of how we can realise the type of society and country that we wish to rebuild for the future.