Study: Poor rate of training for secondary teachers

IRISH second-level teachers receive less than half the amount of ongoing training as those in 22 other developed countries, an international study has revealed.

The report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that 90% of Irish teachers had taken part in professional development in the 18 months before being surveyed, similar to the average rate among those in all other countries.

But the six days of training compared poorly with an average of 15 days in the entire study group.

The study involved 23 countries and more than 2,200 teachers and principals in 142 Irish second- level schools.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI), which has 9,000 members working in second-level schools, said the Government must show a greater commitment to training even in these difficult times.

Just over €30 million has been allocated by the Department of Education this year to in-career development for primary and second-level teachers, down from €34 million last year.

Irish teachers in the OECD’s Teaching and Learning International Study (TALIS) also identified a specific need for training in computer and technology skills, teaching students with special needs, teaching in a multicultural setting and student counselling.

“We are asking the department to work towards targeting resources at these vital areas of professional development for the benefit of our education system and its role in stimulating economic recovery,” said TUI education and research officer Bernie Judge.

A report of the Irish findings, published by the Educational Research Centre at St Patrick’s College in Dublin, shows that less than half of second- level teachers here work in schools which had been externally evaluated in the previous five years, compared with 70% of teachers in the entire study.

Just over 40% of Irish teachers said they had never received any appraisal or feedback from their current principal, which is almost twice the average in all countries which took part.

However, a similar number said they received feedback from their principal and colleagues at least once a year and 80% of those who have had such appraisal said it helped their development as teachers.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) said the report highlighted its concerns about the high number of temporary teachers in second-level schools here, with just 73% of those surveyed being permanently employed compared to 85% in other countries.

“The vast majority of newly-qualified teachers cannot secure permanent teaching posts for many years, and this is set to worsen when the education cutbacks kick in this September,” ASTI general secretary John White said.

“At a time when our schools are underfunded and understaffed; young, well-educated teachers are being squeezed out of the education service and in many cases out of the country.”