Crisis in Irish schools: Where have all our teachers gone?

Last month, new figures revealed more than 800 primary school teaching posts across the country were lying empty, with the problem most acute in the Greater Dublin Area.

Nearly 90 per cent of Irish schools say they’re experiencing recruitment issues, while many secondary schools have warned they’re being forced to drop or limit access to key subjects such as maths, Irish, biology, home economics, woodwork/construction studies and chemistry.

A variety of factors have been blamed for the shortages including the cost of accommodation in urban areas, career progression options, as well as teachers taking up posts abroad or in the private sector.

However, the Minister for Education says the latest budget contained a range of measures to address teacher supply issues. And meanwhile, the supply of teaching graduates has also increased by about 20 per cent since 2018.

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So, where are all our teachers gone and what can be done to attract people back into the profession? And what does this shortage say about how a career in teaching is perceived these days?

Today, on In the News, Irish Times education editor Carl O’Brien discusses the ongoing teacher shortage and measures being taking to tackle this problem.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.