The government is sleepwalking through a teacher shortage crisis which has reached a new low, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins.
Deputy Cummins, the party’s Education spokesperson, said:
“Last year, former Education Minister Norma Foley said that there wasn’t a problem with staffing in schools, a claim so out of touch with the reality in the sector that it brought outrage from teachers, principals, boards of management and unions.
“Today’s reports show how the teacher shortage crisis has continued to worsen.
“The teaching profession is no longer seen as an attractive career – inflated Leaving Cert points have heightened the barrier of entry, while conditions surrounding working in schools have become unsustainable, such as finding and affording accommodation while working.
“The cost of living, particularly in Dublin, has ruled many newly qualified teachers out of taking up posts in the capital where shortages are at their worst.
“It’s been over two years since the Social Democrats brought forward a motion calling for solutions to this crisis to be implemented, such as the immediate establishment of an emergency teacher supply taskforce, the elimination of delays surrounding the re-registration of teachers with the Teaching Council who’ve worked abroad, and the payment of trainee teachers for their school placements, to name only a few.
“All of these suggestions have been ignored, despite the passing of the motion.
“Even if the Department of Education decided to get serious about rejuvenating teaching as a vocation, the housing and cost of living crises will still prevent many from affording to pursue this career – only a multi-departmental approach can sort this mess out.
“Allowing early childhood educators to teach junior and senior infants classes, as is the norm in other European countries, is one measure which could be implemented quickly to provide relief to schools which are struggling to find staff.
“The teacher recruitment and retention crisis in our schools did not happen overnight – it’s been more than a decade in the making and is the result of flawed policy decisions by successive Governments.
“Every day that passes without taking substantial action to address this issue, schools will fail to provide children across the country with the education they deserve.”
March 26th, 2025