Sir, – I wish to draw attention to the ongoing situation facing newly-qualified teachers. I am an unemployed newly-qualified teacher having completed a postgraduate diploma in education at the National University of Ireland, Galway. In order to be considered for this course I volunteered for one year to gain experience in the field and I also completed an MA in history. I was accepted into the course and graduated with first- class honours. During my time at university I was also very involved in societies, particularly the university newspaper.
Since I completed the course I have registered with the Teaching Council and have applied for in excess of 100 posts. I have been called to two interviews in which I was unsuccessful and have not received any acknowledgment from the vast number of schools to which I have applied. This is very disheartening. I am currently signing on for jobseeker’s allowance, standing in the same queue as people whom I went to school with who never went to university. I am exactly where they are despite years of studying and support from my parents.
I am utterly dismayed at Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn’s initiative to rehire until the summer holidays teachers who are going to retire between next month and February (Home News, November 4th). If this is the case it shuts the door on newly qualified teachers. I have no wish to emigrate but I seem to have no future in this country and I am made feel that the Government is unconcerned by this and that I and my fellow graduates are better out of the country so that unemployment figures look slightly more palatable.
I want to live and work in Ireland because that is what I am of; it has shaped my personality and my outlook on the world. Unfortunately against my own wishes it will be impossible for me to stay and I will have to seek a career overseas. Much like in the past, Ireland continues to export her talented sons and daughters. – Yours, etc,