Three in four new teachers in North fail to land jobs

Three out of four newly-qualified teachers in the North have failed to secure permanent or significant temporary positions, it was revealed today.

The Assembly has been waiting six years for a review of the issue amid threats to merge Stranmillis University College with Queen’s.

North Employment Minister Reg Empey acknowledged the delay and said he hoped to make progress soon.

“Only 27% of those (trained) in 2006/07 are actually employed in a permanent or significant temporary post. That is a big issue,” he said.

He accepted decisions should not be made to “destroy an asset” (Stranmillis) because of one year’s figures.

He added: “I do think that we have an issue in that for young people to put so much time and effort into something like this, four years of their lives into it and not have a positive outcome isn’t a good thing.”

Empey and Education Minister Caitriona Ruane (Sinn Féin, South Down) are “probably” at the final stages of finalising the report and Sir Reg said he hoped it would be available fairly soon.

“Everybody can see it (St Mary’s) is a centre of excellence, as is Stranmillis and the courses at these colleges are very popular, and that is a sign that the institutions are regarded highly.”

There has been an increase of up to 40% in applications for some classes at St Mary’s.

Stranmillis and St Mary’s face a fall in the number of students they can accept due to a decrease in pupils in schools. St Mary’s has said that it is opposed to any merger.

Gerry Adams (Sinn Féin, West Belfast) said the record of excellence at St Mary’s on the Falls Road had already been proven.

“Provision of good local education in Belfast and in west Belfast is something which I am sure the minister would agree needs to be cherished and cultivated,” he added.