Urgent Teacher Shortage Hits Special Schools, DEIS, and Gaelscoileanna

UPDATE: A shocking new survey reveals a severe shortage of teachers in Irish-medium, special schools, and DEIS schools, with vacancies skyrocketing compared to mainstream national schools. Published today by the Irish Teachers’ Association (INTO), this urgent report showcases that while only 10% of mainstream schools have term-long teacher vacancies, a staggering 56% of special schools and 43% of Irish-medium schools are grappling with the same issue.

The survey, conducted in October 2023 with responses from 565 schools, highlights a critical situation where 19% of schools reported being unable to fill permanent, temporary, or substitute teaching positions. Currently, there are 234 vacant posts across primary and special schools nationwide, with Dublin experiencing the highest impact: 55% of schools in the capital reported vacancies, including 131 long-term vacancies.

John Boyle, General Secretary of the INTO, states that the government is neglecting the urgent need for qualified teachers in classrooms. “A few weeks ago, the Department of Education had the gall to announce that the number of teaching graduates ‘continues to be sufficient,’” Boyle said. “They have failed miserably to ensure that every child has access to qualified and passionate teachers.”

This teacher shortage is not merely a statistic; it disrupts the educational experience of countless students. A total of 336 schools reported challenges in finding replacements, with 56 schools unable to secure substitutes for at least ten days during September. The practice of splitting classes to cover for absent teachers has led to 735 school days being disrupted, with only six weeks completed in the school year.

The situation is dire in special education settings, where 24 special schools have term-long substitute vacancies, and 65% of schools have had to assign special needs teachers to other classes due to shortages. Alarmingly, there are 150 hours of part-time teaching available in 72 schools that remain unfilled, leaving vulnerable children without essential support.

Furthermore, the survey revealed 47 unfilled posts on supply teacher panels. Boyle emphasizes the need for the government to attract more teachers to these critical areas of education. He noted that the delay in local bargaining offers an opportunity for the government to implement incentives to draw individuals toward special needs education and disadvantaged schools.

In response, a spokesperson for the Department of Education claimed that there are over 75,000 teachers working across the country, with more than 43,000 in primary schools. They argued that only 3.1% of primary-level posts remain unfilled, equating to 1,228 positions, suggesting that most schools are adequately staffed.

However, Boyle’s findings paint a different picture, indicating a systemic issue that the Department continues to deny. “The Government has made it clear that they are happy to run the largest primary classes in Europe,” he concluded, stressing that this situation, alongside inadequate support for special needs assistants, significantly impacts teacher supply.

The urgency of this crisis calls for immediate action. Parents, students, and educators alike are left anxiously awaiting solutions. As the school year progresses, the hope is that the government will finally address this growing issue and take steps to ensure every child receives the quality education they deserve.

Stay tuned for more updates as this situation develops.