Opinion: Gary Gannon says the teacher shortage has reached crisis point - he will table proposed solutions tomorrow...
Gary Gannon Social Democrats THE TEACHER RECRUITMENT crisis in our primary and second-level schools did not happen overnight – it has been more than a decade in the making and is the result of flawed policy decisions by successive governments.
Today, our schools are paying a high price for these short-sighted decisions. The figures are grim. A recent Teachers’ Union of Ireland survey found that 91% of post-primary schools experienced recruitment difficulties in the past six months, while 61% reported problems with teacher retention.Almost two-thirds of primary schools in the Dublin area are short-staffed, according to the Irish Primary Principals’ Network , with neighbouring counties facing similar issues.
It is of particular concern that children with additional needs are losing valuable tuition hours because of the recruitment crisis. A recent survey by the Irish Primary Principals Network found that 83% of schools have had no option but to redeploy special education teachers to act as substitute teachers in mainstream classes.
This situation, if allowed to deteriorate, will inevitably mean students from wealthier backgrounds will have an even bigger academic advantage when it comes to State exams and higher education options. This week, a principal in Dublin was forced to appeal for substitute teachers on social media, warning that schools were at “breaking point” due to staff shortages. I have heard first-hand testimonies from principals about the devastating impact the crisis is having on their schools.
A recent study found that more than 40% of students participating in the PME are reliant on parents or partners for funding. This puts huge pressure on family finances and can cause high levels of financial stress. Since the PME was expanded, it costs at least €12,500 to complete the two-year course – this compares with €5,000 for the one-year master’s in Belfast.
It is completely unreasonable to ask a teacher to move to a new location if they don’t have a job or financial security. Our motion will also call for permanent, full-time positions to be given to teachers upon their initial appointment and for the elimination of delays for those re-registering with the Teaching Council. Ireland’s teaching workforce is not representative of wider Irish society, with people from working class and minority backgrounds taking up few posts across the country.
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