Lack of male primary teachers: Irish language rule not to blame

THE falling numbers of male primary school teachers is not because of the high standard of Irish needed, a study has revealed.

A number of studies in recent years have pointed to the fact that men do less well than women in Irish at school as a factor, as entry to primary teaching degree courses requires at least a higher level grade C in Leaving Certificate Irish.

Efforts by government, teachers and schools to increase the number of men have increased in recent years, as they account for just 17% — fewer than 5,000 — of the country’s 26,000 primary teachers. In 1940, women made up 57% of primary school teaching staff, but that rose to 82% by 2003.