The recruitment and retention crisis within education will be top of the agenda at the TUI annual congress beginning today.
A survey published yesterday showed over 50% of new teachers are considering leaving Ireland for teaching roles abroad.
Teachers cited disillusionment with their teaching job, the opportunity to save money and issues related to the accommodation crisis as being the top three factors.
Just 35% of over 700 Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) respondents who entered the profession in recent years have received a contract of full hours upon initial appointment.
Some 12% were offered a permanent position on appointment.
Increased challenges
The TUI said the survey shows "significant, continuing involvement of teachers in voluntary extracurricular activities that benefit students".
More than 70% of respondents do not believe that there are enough posts of responsibility in their schools, while 93% believe that the challenges faced by young people have increased in the last five years.
Posts of responsibility ensure "the effective running of schools while providing pastoral support for students".
Over 90% agreed that bureaucratic duties regularly deflect from the core role of teaching, with a similar number finding that that such duties have increased since they started their career.
'Tax-free salaries and housing'
TUI President David Waters said people have to be given a reason to stay.
"We need to keep these top-quality graduates [and] that means we have to have attractive terms and conditions," he said.
"Unfortunately if you're getting a bit-piece contract, there's a lure of going abroad where places like Dubai can offer tax-free salaries and housing that the Irish Government can't do.
"But what they can do is make sure people aren't impoverished on their return".
Students listening to their teacher in a classroom, 22-8-13. Image: Wavebreak Media Premium / AlamyMr Waters said we must provide teachers with adequate supports.
"Finland invests 7% of GDP annually into education, we don't even do half that - it's shameful really," he said.
"If we want to improve our education system - and there's lots of lofty ambitions - but really we need to reduce class sizes [and] you need to give teachers the adequate resources to be able to attend to each student's needs," he added.
The TUI is calling for full-time jobs upon initial appointment, a reinstatement of allowances formerly paid to teachers, more career opportunities and full recognition of teaching service overseas for those wishing to return to the Irish education system.
Its annual congress will be attended by 500 delegates at the INEC in Killarney this week.
A similar survey from the INTO found issues like housing, the cost of living and poor pay have resulted in over 5,000 Irish teachers moving abroad.
