Ireland’s teacher recruitment and retention crisis is not a temporary fluctuation but a system challenge that threatens the quality of education and equity for young people, ASTI General Secretary Kieran Christie will tell the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education (Wednesday December 10th).
In his opening statement to the Joint Committee meeting on the Recruitment and Retention of Teachers, Mr Christie will reference recent ASTI and RedC research which finds that the teacher supply crisis is impacting on every part of the school system:
- Around two-thirds of school leaders have reported unfilled vacancies, even after multiple rounds of advertising.
- Approximately 75% of schools say they have advertised posts for which no applicant applied.
- Many second-level schools rely on non-qualified, out-of-field, or casual teachers, and a significant number of schools have had to drop certain subjects entirely.
- Special Educational Needs (SEN) teachers are regularly reassigned to mainstream classes, reducing supports for vulnerable students.
In order to address the current teacher supply crisis, the ASTI will call for:
- Much improved access to full-time permanent employment for new teachers and for teachers returning from abroad.
- A reduction in the length of the Professional Master of Education (from two years back to one year), to reduce financial and time barriers faced by graduates considering teaching.
- A shortening of the teachers’ pay scale and the restoration of key allowances.
- Recognition of relevant overseas teaching experience in the pay of teachers returning from abroad.
- The restoration of promotional posts for teachers, to ensure schools are supported by an adequate middle management structure and teaching becomes a more sustainable career.
- Targeting housing supports, including the ring-fencing of affordable accommodation.
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