Plan to help people from mix of backgrounds become teachers

Dozens of more people with disabilities, Travellers, and others from under-represented backgrounds are expected to become teachers every year in a campaign to widen diversity in the profession.

A €2.4m investment in initiatives at a number of colleges over the next three years aims to give such groups a better chance of pursuing and qualifying for teaching careers.

Education Minister Richard Bruton’s focus is to also have more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds at the top of classrooms, in turn offering pupils role models to realise their own potentials.