‘I had no work for weeks and I was broke’

Sarah’s struggle

SARAH CUNNINGHAM knew that retired teachers were getting a lot of school substitution work — work that she and other recent graduates desperately need.

But hearing that dozens of retirees have spent at least 50 days in primary classes this school year alone makes it even more difficult for a talented young teacher trying to get regular work.

“That work should have been given to newly qualified teachers. It’s getting really frustrating, I’d say I’ve only had around 30 days since last September,” said the 25-year-old.

“They’ve done their service and they’ve got their pension based on however long they taught for. There’s no way a retired teacher has the same financial problems as a newly qualified teacher who has little or no work.”

Like the other 2,200 people to qualify as primary teachers last year, Sarah needs two periods of 50 days consecutive teaching in the same class to get probation from a Department of Education inspector. Without this, she cannot get the full registration from the Teaching Council that is needed to have a decent chance of permanent or contract school work.

Having started out after school on a three-year fashion course and working in home insurance and sales, Sarah started her teacher training at Froebel College in Dublin in 2007, expecting a strong chance of employment when she finished. But without even a response to more than 60 job applications last summer, she has since only had casual work at about 10 schools in Dublin, despite a CV that boasts key skills including drama and musical experience.

“People who get contracts covering maternity or something like that are almost always the ones who’ve already got regular subbing work at the school. But the longest stint I’ve done was two weeks’ cover. It’s all been just two or three days at a time after that,” she said.

“I can understand that retired teachers have more experience than somebody who’s newly qualified. But I don’t know how we’re going to get experience if we can’t get more substitution work,” said Sarah, who lives at home in Shankill in south Dublin.

Although she believes the problem of schools using retired teachers is more common outside Dublin, she would like to see more done to ensure that those who recently qualified get a better chance. She worked part-time in the first year of college and got some grant support in second and third year and currently receives around €120 a week on the dole if she isn’t working.

“It’s great to get the €195 a day whenever I get work but that is before tax, I can’t imagine what it must be like for a young teacher who isn’t living at home. I was reaching the end of my tether a couple of weeks ago, I had no work for weeks and I was absolutely broke. It’s wrecking my head,” said Sarah.

She said retired teachers are clearly getting a lot of substitution work, not just because they are more experienced, but, in many cases, simply because they know the principals.

“The principal at one school where I get work always tries to get younger teachers in and would only bring in a retired teacher as a last resort. But I don’t think retired teachers should be working, they have finished teaching and that’s what retirement should be,” she said.