Latest news with #NationalAssociationofPrincipals
Irish Times
07-07-2025
- General
- Irish Times
1,847 teaching posts vacant amid ‘supply crisis' for new school year
More than 1,800 teaching posts were left vacant this year, while many schools in the Greater Dublin Area report that they are struggling to hire qualified staff in the run-up to the new academic year. Principals say the housing crisis and cost-of-living issues mean it is difficult to find teachers in and around the capital, especially in schools located in more deprived areas . A Department of Education review of teacher payroll in March of this year found there were 1,847 vacant posts across schools. Most unfilled teacher positions were at primary level (1,228 posts) compared to second level (619). A similar review conducted in November last year found there were 1,600 vacant posts, indicating that more posts became vacant as the academic year continued. READ MORE Paul Crone, director of the National Association of Principals and Deputies , said many Dublin schools, as well as those in other large urban areas and some remote locations, were having difficulty finding qualified teachers in time for the new school year. He said the situation was especially acute in subjects such as home economics, physics and engineering, while 'post-primary schools nationally are finding it impossible to fill positions to replace teachers on parental leave, paternity leave and even maternity leave'. 'In many of these situations, principals are covering this leave with the teacher extension scheme, supervision and substitution, PME [professional master of education] students or unqualified teachers,' Mr Crone said. A department spokesperson said, overall, the number of unfilled teaching posts continues to be 'low' with vacancies accounting for 2.5 per cent of all 74,611 allocated posts in schools. The payroll analysis was a 'snapshot at a point in time' and schools continually recruit throughout the year, the spokesperson added. In an attempt to boost teacher supply, meanwhile, the department has extended several measures to assist schools in accessing additional teaching and substitute hours. The 'teaching hours extension scheme' allows teachers on full teaching contracts of 22 hours to provide additional substitution cover of up to 35 additional hours for each term. In addition, teachers who are job sharing will continue to be able to work as substitute teachers in any school, as long as they are off duty, while teachers who are on a career break can continue to work as substitute teachers at primary and second level. Minister for Education Helen McEntee said that while they were not long-term solutions, they will continue to support schools to access qualified teaching for the students in their schools. 'Teachers are at the heart of our schools and we are so lucky to have more teachers working in our schools than we ever have had before. However, in some areas there are teacher supply challenges and I am committed to tackling this,' she said. Other measures due to come into force include fast-tracking newly qualified teachers into secure permanent contracts and helping teachers who have trained abroad apply for registration in the State. Teacher unions, however, say a 'supply crisis' is being accentuated by the affordability of the profession for new entrants and unsustainable workloads. The department said the new public service pay deal will mean salaries for new entrants climb to €46,000 and a maximum of €85,000 per year, which it said compares well internationally. Some schools have also reported difficulties hiring principals in advance of the school year, with deputy principals obliged to 'act up' as a temporary measure. While figures for 2025 are not available, last year 160 primary principals (5 per cent of all principals) and 35 second-level principals (7.5 per cent) retired. These numbers have remained relatively steady over recent years.
Irish Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Schools told they cannot spent €9m phone pouch budget on other education needs
Secondary schools have been told by the Department of Education that funding for controversial smartphone pouches and other forms of phone storage must not be used for any other education needs. A €9 million plan to provide smartphone pouches to second-level schools, announced in last October's budget, sparked controversy at the time, with Opposition parties labelling the initiative 'wasteful' and 'unnecessary'. From today, all non-fee charging second-level schools can apply for up to €25 per student to purchase secure storage solutions for mobile phones during the school day, such as pouches or lock boxes. Any unused money must be ring-fenced in school accounts to fund replacement equipment in future and may not be used for other purposes. Records of expenditure must be maintained and available for audit, if required. READ MORE Paul Crone, director of the National Association of Principals and Deputies , said school leaders would prefer if this level of funding was made available for more pressing educational needs. 'I'm aware that schools who have pouches are very happy with them, but a simple ban doesn't take into account the different contexts and needs for schools, and this money would be better spent elsewhere,' he said. The move is part of a wider drive to restrict the use of mobile phones during the school day and tackle concerns over student wellbeing, distraction during class time, cyberbullying and decreased social interaction at break times. [ Smartphone bans in isolation fail to equip children for healthy use of tech, say experts Opens in new window ] In updated guidance issued to schools, Minister for Education Helen McEntee has confirmed that post-primary schools must implement a policy to restrict mobile phone use during the school day. 'First and foremost, this policy is about ensuring that our schools are phone-free learning environments. Students should not be on their phones during the school day; this guidance and support will ensure all schools have the supports they need to achieve this, having regard to their own requirements,' she said. 'Having engaged with many different school communities across the country, I am confident that this policy will support student wellbeing, engagement and their interaction with their peers, while also recognising the experience and expertise of school communities and the need for consultation.' Latest research , however, indicates that banning phones in schools is not linked to pupils getting higher grades or having better mental health. Academics say a more comprehensive approach to reducing overall phone and social media use in adolescents needs to be explored, addressing both in-school and out-of-school use. Social Democrats education spokeswoman Jen Cummins said the reality for schools is that many are so cash-strapped that they are 'struggling to keep the lights on'. 'A new survey has revealed that a record number have had to apply to the department for emergency funding,' she said. 'In that context, it is completely tone deaf for the Government to insist that €9 million should go on phone storage." Ms McEntee, meanwhile, said schools, in consultation with parents, students and others, will be asked to develop their own policies on how to implement their bans on phones Schools have been told to adopt a consistent approach for the full school day, with limited exemptions allowed for medical or compassionate grounds.
