Primary schools turning to unqualified staff amid struggle to recruit teachers

Almost 400 teachers are expected to retire or resign by January 2025. File picture

Primary schools are increasingly having to turn to unqualified staff to cover absences as they struggle to recruit teachers.

As the pressure around teacher supply deepens, a survey of primary schools finds that almost 750 unqualified teachers have been employed in the first five weeks of the school term to cover short-term absences.