Teacher's union new president has strong Cavan links

A Cavan woman has taken over at the helm as the President of the ASTI. Breda Lynch was chosen as the group’s President-elect last April, but officially took over the top spot today.

Originally from Dublin, she moved with her family to Cavan in her early teens and attended schools in the county.

She is now a teacher of maths at Muckross Park College in Dublin. She takes the mantle of the Union leader, which represents secondary school teachers across Ireland, from outgoing President Ger Curtin.

Ms Lynch studied at Ballinagh National School and later Loreto College in Cavan Town. She undertook a Degree in Maths and Theology, and H.Dip in Education at St Patrick’s College Maynooth and her first teaching post was at Loreto Churchtown, at which time she became a member of the ASTI.

In statement on taking office Ms Lynch said the teacher shortage crisis facing schools next year will only be resolved when the pay inequality experienced by new and recently qualified teachers is addressed.

The new union head believes action must be taken on the matter: “The government must end the discrimination experienced by thousands of teachers who entered the teaching profession since 2010. The ASTI believes equal pay for equal work and experience is fundamental to a fair and inclusive society. It is not right that so many of our younger teachers teach the importance of equality in the classroom, but are denied this basic right in terms of their pay.”