'There is a real sense that we are part of something special'

Áine QuinnHigher Diploma in Education (Primary), Froebel College of Education, Blackrock, Co Dublin

'I'd say about 80 per cent of my class are in a similar situation to me. We're mid-to-late 20s, have spent a couple of years in the workforce and have decided to go back and train as primary school teachers. I think you get to a stage where you have to decide whether to stay in the rat race, or whether you want something more.

'I was working as an optician in Dublin. I enjoyed the contact with people and the caring element of the profession, but the retail end of things wasn't as enjoyable. I didn't really feel as though I had much of a life outside of my work. I knew that I wasn't going to be happy if I stuck with the job for 10 years. I wanted a career that would be more rewarding.

'The thing with teaching is that you can really make a difference to people's lives and you really are part of the community. That said, my dad's a teacher and he thinks I'm crazy to do it! I think, though, that teaching has changed a lot in recent years. It is very child-centred, which wasn't necessarily the case years ago. As well as that, there's not that sense of being on your own anymore. You're part of a team now with resource teachers and special needs assistants. Also, the opportunities for further education and training have increased hugely for teachers now, so there's much more scope for professional development once you're qualified.

'I thought long and hard before doing it. It's a big change. I'm still working part-time but it's definitely a sacrifice. So far, I'm enjoying the course. We're only a month in yet! The class is small and there is a real sense that we are a part of something special.'

Justin McCarthyGraduate Diploma in Education (Business) programme at UL

'Nobody's doing teaching for the money! For me it was definitely a lifestyle decision. I did a degree in business and a postgrad in computers. I worked in Dublin in computers for five years and then moved back home to Tralee where I worked for another two years. I got a redundancy package and decided to use the money to finance myself through college. I was actually offered another computers job on the same industrial estate that I had been working on. The money was good, but I just thought that there were never going to be that many computer jobs in Kerry. I still wanted to live in Tralee so I decided to retrain as a teacher.

'So far, I'm enjoying the teaching. I'm doing my teaching practice back in the school that I attended as a student. Things have changed a lot in the 15 years since I did the Leaving Cert. It can be tough, and you need to be strong, but it can be extremely rewarding. Newcomer students, for example, have varying levels of English and it can be challenging to integrate them fully, but again, it's just another part of the job. You do your best.

'The course is interesting. I'm commuting up and down to it, which is tough enough, but it's going well at the moment. Experience is definitely the way you learn with teaching, though! It was a big step to make the change.

'I'm well aware that the prospects aren't brilliant for second-level teachers and I'm resigned to the fact that I'll probably have to spend a couple of years substitute teaching and doing a lot of temporary work around the county. Hopefully I'll manage to get a permanent job within the next few years.'

Fiona O'Reilly

Teaches fifth class in St Colmcille's SNS, Knocklyon. This is her second year teaching

'I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. Whether it was going to be secondary or primary I wasn't really sure initially. I did quite a bit of sports coaching, though, and I enjoyed the younger groups, so I settled on primary. I just love the energy you get off the kids. You can make an immediate change to them, which is just brilliant. A smile or a few words can really turn the day around for a child. It's great to get them in September and see how that bond forms. I actually miss them over the holidays.

'A school is a place where students should come in happy and you want to send them home happy. There are so many opportunities for them and we really do try to cater for the individual. I'm always saying to my class that we'd be bored if everyone was the same and good at the same things.

'With that, there are challenges of course. Sometimes you feel like you're struggling to cater for everyone. Even with just two children with special needs in a class, it's difficult to give them the extra time they need without ignoring everyone else.

'For me, the fact that it's a stable job and that you can have a good work-life balance is a big deal. I give everything I can to the job. It's so intense. You have to be aware of everything that's going on all the time. By the end of the day, your whole body and brain can be wrecked.

'It's definitely an important job. The children are just starting off in life and your influence as a teacher at that stage is huge. It's really important to cater for each child. I just think, once they're happy in school, that's half the battle.'

Thomas Cousins

First-year student in St Patrick's College, Drumcondra; currently completing his first teaching practice

'I always wanted to do teaching when I was younger. My mother used to work with kids so I was always used to being around them. I went off the idea in secondary school because I didn't think I'd get the points for it. I actually went and did a year of a business degree in college but it just wasn't for me. I went back and repeated my Leaving Cert to get primary teaching.

'Teaching practice is fine. We're with junior infants this time. They really look up to you. I have no idea how secondary school teachers manage to keep control of older students. I'd prefer primary any day.

'I like the fact that it's a stable job and there's a steady income with good hours. You see people working crazy hours and there's more to life than that. I think in teaching you can see the results of your work a lot quicker than in other jobs. It's rewarding and there's probably great variety too. Every child is different no matter what you're teaching them from year to year.

'In the new curriculum, education is completely geared at the children. You're teaching them through games and songs and they're learning through play. It used to be very autocratic, the teacher up at the top of the class with a big stick or something. This way is much better. The resources are great too. They have so much more in schools now between PE equipment and whatever the children need.

'I've no regrets about doing teaching. I like the idea that you're dealing with people the whole time but in the class you have the final say. I couldn't imagine dealing with figures and account books. It's not me and it never was.'