Retired teachers should just stay retired

While it is a common assumption among the general public that all teachers are in permanent pensionable employment, the reality is quite different.

OECD studies show that just 73% of Irish second level teachers are in permanent positions (compared to 96% in Denmark and 90% in Norway).

This is one of the lowest levels in Europe. The remaining 27% survive on temporary contracts and are often scraping by on part-time hours.

Younger teachers are in an even more difficult position. OECD statistics show that the majority (52%) of secondary teachers under 30 are on non-permanent contracts of a year or less.

They are being offered insecure contracts rather than a dedicated career and risk becoming a highly qualified spailpín class.

One must also remember massive cutbacks in education mean less employment opportunities in our schools and that the take home pay of newly qualified teachers is down over 30% on what they would have received three years ago.

In this context the call by Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn for school managers to refrain from hiring retired teachers for substitute work does not seem unreasonable.

They should let a new generation gain skills, experience and employment.

Kevin P McCarthy

Killarney