A survey has found many PSA members in schools are frustrated using the electronic financial planning tool (eFPT).

“It is clear from the responses the eFPT is having a significant impact on their working lives, including impacting health and wellbeing,” said Industrial Manager Siobhan Callinan.

The survey found nearly 90 per cent of those who responded that they did not understand and/or trust the data in their eFPT School Dashboard.

The tool is used for keeping track of school finances.

Nearly 75 per cent responded said they did not find the resources available helpful or easy to find, while nearly 65 per cent responded they did not have time to access the resources to support them in this work.

The PSA received hundreds of personal and free form comments from members about the eFPT and how it is impacting them.

The Executive Delegates from the Schools Departmental Committee and PSA staff have reviewed the data, along with the many comments from respondents in detail, and have compiled the key concerns to be raised on members’ behalf.

Comments included, “this system is the worst I’ve worked with in my 28 years with the Department of Education”.

Members reported support is extremely slow to obtain, with the system leaving users “feeling completely incompetent”.

“Over the years the eFPT has made me feel so inadequate and useless,” wrote one member. “I feel so stupid when my Principal asks me questions about the eFPT and I honestly don’t know the answers.

“There has got to be a better way to know how much money you have.”

Poor information about the schools’ financial status was a common complaint, with one member admitting, “ultimately, we have no idea of our actual financial position”.

Ms Callinan said the union will use the data to further its case that eFPT is creating excessive workload for members.

“It needs to be improved, training needs to be improved, or the Department needs to admit it needs to be replaced with a better system,” she said.