Reduce Irish standard to attract male teachers, urges union
Figures released last week show that only 10% of primary teachers in their 20s are male, compared to a quarter of those in their 50s.
An Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) report published yesterday revealed that less than 10% of the 3,000 students in education colleges are male. The union has warned that Ireland will have no more male teachers by 2035 if this trend continues.
The INTO has suggested lowering Irish language requirements and a quota to ensure at least one-fifth of education college entrants are male.
All entrants to teacher training colleges must have a minimum Grade C in higher level Leaving Certificate Irish. Last year, just over a quarter of the 60,000 candidates took higher level Irish, and more than 8,000 female students achieved a C or higher, compared to 4,056 males.
“The statistics indicate that the Irish requirement serves in part as a gender-biased filter. It’s the only subject where intending teachers are required to take an honours paper,” the report said.
It said a lower entry standard for a defined number of male candidates might be considered. Similar measures operate in favour of students from the Gaeltacht and applicants to the Church of Ireland College, for whom 40 fewer CAO points were required last year.
Education Minister Noel Dempsey told the Dáil last week he was concerned about the imbalance between male and female applicants for primary teaching. But, he said, any proposals to attract more males to the profession should take account of equality legislation requirements.
The INTO believes amendments to legislation going through the Oireachtas will strengthen the possibility of positive action to tackle gender imbalance in teaching.
Despite the overall gender imbalance, the report shows that half of the 3,300 principals are male. It suggests action is required to ensure more women teachers are appointed to the position.
