As the Deputy may be aware, a scheme of job sharing for primary teachers was introduced in 1997. This scheme provided for job sharing arrangements involving two permanent teachers both based in the same school.
My Department also approved, on a pilot basis, two job sharing arrangements involving teachers based in different schools. This was primarily to facilitate teachers in smaller schools who could not find a job sharing partner within the school. Initially it was the intention to limit the number of teachers job sharing between schools pending a review of the arrangements. However, there appears to be a consensus among the partners that the scheme is operating satisfactorily, and I am pleased to advise the Deputy that I have decided to continue with the pilot scheme for the 1999-2000 school year.