Guidance advice and subject diversity hit by under-staffing

Teachers are being forced to mix classes from different years together, withdraw provision of vital Leaving Certificate subjects, and remove guidance counselling services because of chronic under-staffing.

A Millward Brown survey conducted on behalf of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland revealed the findings, with the union warning that the hidden cuts are severelyimpacting on the pupil-teacher relationship.

According to the survey, 98% of second-level schools have lost an average of two full-time teachers since 2009, meaning that classes and different years are having to be mixed together to fill the gaps.