LSEs have for years been obliged to support students with a disability in their personal needs, as per the Ministry of Education job description on which the MUT readily signed off.
JOB DESCRIPTION HANDBOOK 2007 Here is the description verbatim:
Supporting pupils with special needs in their personal care and hygiene needs including:
a) Toileting – cleaning and washing, including accompanying the child to the toilet; undressing and dressing; cleaning, washing and showering; and changing of sanitary towels and incontinence pads;
b) Seeing to the mobility, posture and seating needs, including lifting pupils and pushing pupils in wheelchairs according to Health and Safety Regulations issued under the Health and Safety Authority Act taking into consideration international guidelines. The present guidelines shall be:
i. Lifting up to 27 kilograms shall be undertaken by one Supply LSA, lifting up to 54 kilograms shall be undertaken by 2 persons; beyond 54 kilograms, a mechanical lift is to be used.
ii. Pushing wheelchairs: up to 45 kilograms occasionally; up to 28 kilograms frequently; and up to 9 kilograms as necessary.
c) Ensuring the maximum educational benefit and safety for individual pupils at all times by providing them with assistance during physical education, games, excursions and therapy sessions, as well as normal feeding during mid-morning and mid-day breaks and at other times as required.
It is evident that the role of the LSE has moved away from the original educational intention it primarily had.
We at the UPE believe that the LSE’s role as an educator is now the main focus; after all, it is clearly stated in their nomenclature, with several years of study in Inclusive Education an essential component in their formation.
No other union will look after the LSE’s interest — only the UPE is capable of safeguarding and advocating these matters in the forthcoming collective agreement.The UPE will ensure that the LSE’s role is focused on education through the removal of the personal support burden by proposing and insisting on the engagement of other professionals to perform the job described above, for the dignity of both the student and the profession.
