Male primary teachers ‘fear false sex abuse claims’

MEN are put off teaching in primary schools because they are afraid of being falsely accused of sexually abusing students, a study has found.

More than one-third of male teachers who took part in a study on gender balance in primary teaching cited sex abuse claims as a factor that would strongly discourage other men from entering the profession.

Although issues such as perceived better job prospects outside teaching, poor salary and slow career progress were ranked as higher deterrents, men said false claims were more discouraging than the compulsory Irish language requirement for teaching.

The study carried out by Dr Eileen Drew of Trinity College Dublin was designed to examine factors that motivate and discourage men from becoming primary teachers. It also suggested measures to encourage more men into the profession.

She found that teaching was not the first choice of career for almost one quarter of the 379 male teachers surveyed. A similar proportion only chose a teacher training course after completing a primary college degree.

The study was presented at a conference organised by the gender and equality unit of the Department of Education, which considers the gender imbalance a major policy issue. While around one-fifth of primary teachers are men, only 10% of students in the country’s education colleges are male.

Dr Drew found that measures which would encourage more men into teaching might include increased financial incentives and a shortened pay scale. But respondents said the job should lose its tag of being mainly female-oriented, helped by career talks in schools by male teachers and television advertising.

They also suggested relaxed Irish language requirements for primary teachers - a grade C in higher level is needed.

While most male teachers were satisfied with their work, job security and their pupils, less than half were happy about their salary or their promotion prospects.

The conference also heard representatives from the INTO, the Department of Education inspectorate and academics from University College Dublin and Marino College who have conducted research in the area.

The findings and recommendations of the conference will be submitted in a report to Education Minister Mary Hanafin.