Secondary schools may face ‘unpalatable decisions’ to drop subjects due to teacher crisis

The TUI survey of principals and deputy principals in 104 schools across the country found that 89pc of schools experienced recruitment difficulties in the previous 12 months.

It also revealed that maths, construction studies/woodwork, Irish, biology and home economics were the top five most difficult subjects to employ teachers in.

Schools also face difficulty finding teachers for business, engineering/metalwork, French and agricultural science.

While 82pc of schools said they had not been forced to drop subjects as a result of the retention and recruitment crisis, 45pc have had to restrict or limit student access to subjects due to lack of teachers available.

TUI president David Waters said his own school was forced to drop construction as a subject after a teacher who emigrated could not be replaced.

He said many schools were being forced to make “a lot of unpalatable decisions” on subject choices.

“For every position that goes unfilled, that’s potentially nine different classes that don’t have teachers. It’s far worse than people think it really is – and I’ll say credit to managements around the country for keeping it afloat at all because it’s very bad.”

Sinéad Corkery, the deputy principal St Patrick’s Cathedral Grammar School in Dublin, told how each day was “a juggling act” to ensure each class had a teacher and many schools were “stretched to the limit”.

“In certain areas it’s harder than others – the languages, science subjects, maths, Irish. The teachers just don’t exist,” said the ASTI member.

“You’re holding your breath all summer and you’re a nervous wreck when you come back wondering who is going to show up to that staff meeting on the first day because it’s totally understandable if a teacher gets something more suited to their lifestyle outside Dublin: you can’t fault them for taking that position.”

Another principal in Dublin told the Irish Independent that he currently had four vacancies to fill, but had received just one application since they were first advertised.

“This crisis is being lived out on a day-to-day basis,” he added. “I haven’t dropped any subjects yet and that’s because myself and the deputy principal are in covering classes. We’re trying to run a school and at the same time, we’re teaching.

“It’s not fair on the kids, it’s not fair on the teachers, it’s not fair on the parents and it’s not fair on the principals.”

He said current first years at the school could not be offered home economics because there is no qualified teacher. Other practical subjects were also struggling.

The principal added that he was “lucky” to be surrounded by “amazing staff” and “an amazing group of kids”, but admitted it could be “absolutely draining” dealing with the ongoing crisis.

“It is becoming a job where you kind of go, ‘So what am I? Am I a teacher? Am I a principal? Am I plugging the hole here?’”