Sir, – I fully support the sentiment of your editorial "Our students deserve better" (June 19th). Doesn't it say it all that the current Minister for Education would rather use student and retired teachers to cover absences than tackling the root cause of the problem?
After successive years of continued casualisation, especially at second level, where hours instead of jobs are still being regularly advertised, is it any wonder there is a shortage in supply? Teaching as a profession is in grave danger of being completely undermined. It may go some way in the short term if newly qualified and recent entrants were paid a fair and decent wage for work rendered in order that we can attract the brightest and best.
However, even in that regard the Minister seems unable to join the dots.
Is it time he went back to school? – Yours, etc,
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STEPHEN O’HARA,
Ballincollig,
Co Cork.