Share
21st October 2024
11:19am BST
Fears over the shortage of places and teachers in schools have been hitting headlines and the union has now said that we’re facing a shortage of nearly 1,000 teachers for next year.
There are currently 951 places vacant in Ireland’s primary and special schools, according to a survey carried out by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), Irish Primary Principals’ Network and the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association.
Alarmingly, it’s being claimed by unions that schools are increasingly asking people who are unqualified or not registered with the Teaching Council to cover short-term absences.
Shortages are at their worst in Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, where more than half of local schools are reportedly trying to fill teaching posts.
Reacting to the survey, INTO General Secretary John Boyle said:
“The findings of this survey paint a deeply concerning picture of an enormous crisis in our primary and special schools.
“The shortage of teachers, especially in urban areas, continues to grow, and the heavy reliance on unqualified staff is an alarming development.
“Unless immediate action is taken, particularly to address the housing and living cost pressures in Dublin and other urban centres, this crisis will only worsen.
“We must act now to ensure no child is regularly being left without a qualified teacher throughout their primary schooling.”
He went on to say: “School leaders are under extreme pressure, and the chronic shortage of teachers is severely impacting their ability to manage their schools effectively on a daily basis.
“They often have no option when mainstream classes are without teachers but to redeploy Special Education Teachers, thereby compromising the specific supports for children with additional needs.
“This appalling situation looks set to continue until government ensures that Ireland has an adequate supply of teachers.”
Mr. Boyle said at this point the crisis needs the attention of government officials and a plan to resolve the issue is needed immediately.
