One in five schools dropped a subject due to teacher recruitment crisis, TUI survey finds

A survey carried out by the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) of more than 100 second-level schools found widespread unfilled vacancies. File picture: iStock

Almost one in five schools say they were forced to drop a subject last year due to recruitment and retention issues, with Irish, maths and French among the subjects most difficult to employ teachers. 

A survey carried out by the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) of more than 100 second-level schools found widespread unfilled vacancies. 

Three-quarters of the schools surveyed had advertised positions in the previous six months for which no teacher applied. A further 60% have unfilled vacancies due to recruitment and retention difficulties, according to the TUI. 

Of the schools surveyed, almost 90% reported experiencing teacher recruitment difficulties in the previous six months, and a further 55% reported experiencing teacher retention problems in the previous six months. 

Just 6% think enough is being done at Government level to tackle the crisis, while over three-quarters believe more could be done to remove barriers for Irish teachers who wish to return from abroad. 

Nearly two-thirds of schools had teachers accept a post and later reject it in favour of another school. Over half of the surveyed schools said they had lost teachers after the timetable had already been set, causing disruption for principals and deputy principals. 

Almost 90% of the surveyed schools reported relying on second-year teaching students to plug staffing gaps. 

TUI president Anthony Quinn said while the latest survey findings are of "little surprise", the inaction to tackle the issues is "absolutely startling."

"Now more than ever, an urgent will to tackle the root causes of this crisis must be demonstrated. It has long been our belief that our policy makers have been happy to ‘ride out’ the crisis until student demographics change at second level.

"However, this is an insult to the students currently in the system who are losing out in terms of subject options and inconsistency in terms of the teachers standing in front of them." 

Teacher retention

The retention of teachers already in the system is often now as big a challenge as actual recruitment, according to Michael Murphy, president of the TUI Principals and Deputy Principals’ Association (PDA). 

"These highly qualified graduates are extremely employable in a range of areas across the economy. 

"We need to ensure that the profession is a sustainable one for them from the start and that they have access to the option of enhanced career structures later in their careers, such as additional middle management posts.

"These posts were cut during the last recession and have never been fully restored. 

"This deficit has had a hugely negative impact on the workload of principals and deputy principals, where we are seeing huge problems with burnout and, in an increasing number of cases, early retirements." 

Strikes on Iranian schools

Meanwhile, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) said it fully supports the statement issued by Education International condemning the recent military strikes on Iran, including reported attacks on two schools on February 28.

"Schools must never be targets, it said in a statement. "Children and teachers are not combatants, and the targeting of civilian infrastructure, including schools, can never be justified."