Last month, new figures revealed more than 800 primary school teaching posts across the country were lying empty, with the problem most acute in the Greater Dublin Area.
Nearly 90 per cent of Irish schools say they’re experiencing recruitment issues, while many secondary schools have warned they’re being forced to drop or limit access to key subjects such as maths, Irish, biology, home economics, woodwork/construction studies and chemistry.
A variety of factors have been blamed for the shortages including the cost of accommodation in urban areas, career progression options, as well as teachers taking up posts abroad or in the private sector.
However, the Minister for Education says the latest budget contained a range of measures to address teacher supply issues. And meanwhile, the supply of teaching graduates has also increased by about 20 per cent since 2018.
Iran launches hundreds of missiles towards Israel, saying that ‘our revenge will be painful’
Annie McCarrick: Cold case murder detectives must overcome poor investigations of 1990s
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy detained in Egypt by the authorities
Kneecap name high-profile legal team to defend terrorism charge against Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh
So, where are all our teachers gone and what can be done to attract people back into the profession? And what does this shortage say about how a career in teaching is perceived these days?
Today, on In the News, Irish Times education editor Carl O’Brien discusses the ongoing teacher shortage and measures being taking to tackle this problem.
Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
