‘Four in five schools have had no application for an advertised post’ – new survey findings confirm worsening teacher supply crisis

By piofficer, Friday, 22nd October 2021 | 0 comments

A new survey of over 100 second level schools shows that the teacher recruitment and retention crisis is worsening across the country. The poll was carried out last month by the Principal and Deputy Principals’ Association of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI). 

TUI is calling for an acceleration of the process of pay equalisation for those who commenced employment since 2011, a return to teachers being employed on permanent contracts of full hours upon initial appointment and the restoration of middle management posts. 

Rental costs and availability, particularly in urban areas, are now having a significant impact on the crisis. 

Key findings of the survey of Principals and Deputy Principals in 109 second level schools include:

  • 98% of schools experienced teacher recruitment difficulties in the previous six months
  • 66% of schools experienced teacher retention difficulties in the previous six months
  • 75% of schools advertised positions in the previous six months for which no teacher applied 
  • 72% have unfilled vacancies due to recruitment and retention difficulties 
  • 75% said that recruitment and retention difficulties have become more severe since COVID-19 was first detected in Ireland 

Full findings at end of statement 

Commenting on the findings, TUI General Secretary Michael Gillespie said:

‘The findings of this survey, carried out in a significant number of the country’s second level schools, make clear the severe damage that the injustice of the two-tier pay system continues to inflict on the education system. 

The two most damning findings show that three quarters of schools advertised positions to which no teacher applied, while over 70% have unfilled vacancies.  

While schools are consistently innovative in dealing with challenges as they arise, this crisis is worsening year on year and the Department is doing precious little to tackle it. This is limiting service to students, who can miss out on subject choices or be taught by ‘out-of-field’ teachers.

Schools in both urban and rural areas are routinely struggling to attract applicants to fill vacant positions. The impact of the rental and accommodation crisis across the country is also having a detrimental effect, particularly in situations where teachers have contracts of less than full hours. In too many cases they cannot afford to live in certain areas. The largest pay discrimination still occurs in the early years of employment, with new entrants to second level teaching earning almost 15% less on initial appointment or over €50,000 less in the first ten years of their career. 

The divisive and damaging practice of paying colleagues different rates for carrying out the same work must be ended. In addition, we must return to employing teachers on a contract of full hours from initial appointment.’  

Principals and Deputy Principals’ Association President Adrian Power said: 

‘To date, we have only seen piecemeal ‘sticking plaster’ measures put forward by the Department to tackle this growing crisis, but the situation is worsening with each passing month and accommodation issues  - in terms of both cost and availability - are now also having an increasingly serious impact.  

Continuation of the status quo will undoubtedly deter graduates from entering and remaining in the profession, to the detriment of teaching and to the benefit of other forms of employment. 

There can be no greater investment in our education system than making the teaching profession attractive to the best graduates now and in the years ahead. Pay discrimination must be ended and school middle management structures must be restored to their pre-cutback levels to facilitate the smooth running of schools and to give teachers promotional opportunities.’  


Online survey of principals/deputy principals in 109 second-level schools was carried out in August and September 2021.   

Responses:

Has your school experienced teacher recruitment difficulties over the last six months?  

98% stated that they have experienced teacher recruitment difficulties   

  

Has your school experienced teacher retention difficulties over the last six months?  

66% stated that they have experienced teacher retention difficulties   

  

Generally speaking, have recruitment and retention difficulties become more or less severe since March 2020, when Covid-19 was first detected in Ireland?  

75% stated that the situation has become more difficult; 2% less difficult; 23% the same   

  

If your school has experienced recruitment/retention difficulties, please specify the subject area(s). Subjects should be rated '1' for the most difficult to employ a teacher in, '2' for the second most difficult to employ a teacher in etc. Fill in as many subjects as are relevant to your situation.   
 

The ten subjects most difficult to employ teachers in in rank order:   

1. Irish

2. Home Economics

3. Mathematics

4. Engineering/Metalwork

5. French

6. Biology

7. Construction Studies/Woodwork

8. English

9. Spanish

10. Agricultural Science   

  

In the past six months, has there been a situation where no teacher applied for an advertised teaching post in your school?  

75% stated ‘Yes’, that they have had a situation where no teacher applied for an advertised post   

Does your school currently have unfilled vacancies due to recruitment and retention difficulties?  

72% responded ‘Yes’, that they have unfilled vacancies due to recruitment and retention difficulties  

Are there any factors behind recruitment/retention difficulties that are relevant to your school that are not listed in the previous question?  

The two-year Professional Master of Education (PME) was identified by respondents as a key issue affecting teacher supply.   


The prohibitive cost of accommodation was a key factor for urban schools.   


Meanwhile, principals/deputy principals in schools in rural areas said it can be difficult to attract younger teachers.   

 
Principals/deputy principals of Gaelscoileanna said that there are significant difficulties finding teachers across all subjects.   


Is there any new trend in that you have noticed in relation to recruitment and retention difficulties? e.g A worsening or improvement in terms of the situation in a particular subject?  

Teachers accepting hours early in the summer only to decline in August when they get a contract of more hours elsewhere.   

Teachers accepting jobs and then declining because of inability to find rented accommodation.   
Do you believe that enough is being done at Government/Department of Education level to tackle recruitment/retention issues in second level schools?  

82% answered ‘No’ – 18% said that they did not know  


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