Qualified substitute teachers ‘impossible’ to find, say primary principals

PRIMARY principals claim they cannot find qualified substitute teachers at short notice despite the unemployment crisis facing recent teaching graduates.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn last week announced a strict protocol to be followed by all primary and second-level schools when they need to employ a substitute teacher, starting with keeping a list of qualified registered teachers available in their area. The move is being made in response to anger from teacher unions about the level of unqualified people still being engaged by schools.

But the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) says members are finding it sometimes impossible to find suitable people at short notice.