One-in-8 trainee teachers to change jobs or emigrate

EMIGRATION or a different career are the only options for one-in-eight trainee teachers who have not yet even qualified, a survey has found.

While all new public servants appointed this year will be subject to salaries 10% below the scales for their colleagues, teachers face an extra hit of up to 6%. The greater difficulty getting work because of Government cutbacks and a new scheme to redeploy teachers in overstaffed schools are adding to the problems facing the 660 people surveyed by the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI).

They will complete their training courses in the coming weeks but, while most new second-level teachers previously started on the third point of the 25-year salary scale to reflect their postgraduate qualification, those beginning their careers this year will start on the first point.