Teaching entry change would see just 5% of students qualify

Only one-in-20 Leaving Certificate students would qualify for entry to primary teacher-training courses if proposed hikes in entry standards were adopted.

The finding emerges from research for the Teaching Council which shows pay cuts and other changes to conditions have not deterred high numbers and academically strong school-leavers seeking entry to the profession.

The ASTI dispute on recently-qualified entrants has highlighted changes to pay for those who started teaching since 2011 which it and other unions claim risk a falloff in interest in teaching careers from high-quality applicants.