Struggle to find qualified teachers for key subjects

SCHOOLS are having problems finding qualified staff to teach Irish, home economics and other key subjects, a top school managers’ representative warned yesterday.

Mary Mullarkey, president of the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS), said Education Minister Mary Hanafin must prioritise the problem.

The association represents boards of management at more than 90 community and comprehensive second-level schools.

Ms Mullarkey said schools are seriously concerned at the implications of plans to implement part of the Teaching Council Act, which would prevent those not registered with the council from being paid with public funding.

As a teaching qualification is needed to register, schools fears they will not be permitted to take on unqualified teachers even on a temporary basis.

“We are aware that an amendment is proposed to the act and we await details.

“At present schools are experiencing teacher shortages in areas including Irish, home economics and other practical subjects. The minister must address this issue as a matter of the greatest priority,” she told the ACCS annual conference in Killarney, Co Kerry.

She said the lack of suitable substitutes was an issue for schools when teachers are away, either working as examiners for oral and practical tests for Junior and Leaving Certificate, or to take in-service training for new subject courses and syllabi.

“We are suggesting that the Department of Education and others examine the viability of an on-line based approach to in-service... With the necessary investment in IT, it could be done without students losing teaching time,” Ms Mullarkey said.

She also warned that society is in danger of creating ghettos of “new Irish” if supports for children of immigrants are not improved. Many schools have up to 30 different nationalities among their students; and there were an estimated 17,000 non- Irish people being taught here last year.

“We acknowledge the supports already put in place but how effective is two hours of language support a week in a 28-hour week?

“Do our new Irish sit in classes listening to a language they don’t understand staring at books they can’t read? Is this what the department means by integration?” Ms Mullarkey asked.