The current recruitment and retention crisis in teaching is the direct result of the "bone-headed, failed policy of successive governments" attempting to make the education system "do more and more, with less and less," the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) General Secretary has said.
Addressing delegates at this year's TUI Congress in Cork, Michael Gillespie claimed the recruitment crisis is a direct result of "not paying the piper but wanting the tune played better, longer, inclusively and more melodiously".
Mr Gillespie said factors affecting recruitment and retention are obvious, citing a TUI pre-Congress survey which showed only 31% of teachers recruited since 2011 get full hours in their first year of teaching.
He said this means seven of every 10 of those teachers had to make do with part-time work.
The survey also found that only 13% of teachers received a permanent contract on initial appointment - meaning that some 87% had no credit worthiness and could not hope to get a mortgage.
'This looks and feels like professional hazing, initiation by humiliation," he said.
"It is unacceptable in any circumstances, never mind when there is also a cost-of-living crisis and a recruitment crisis.
"The remedy is simple: Give new teachers and teachers we want to bring home full-time jobs with full-time salaries, so that they have some chance of meeting their financial commitments," he said.
Mr Gillespie said more posts of responsibility are needed, if the crisis of retention of staff is to be tackled.
He said figures from the Department of Education shows "a catastrophic drop" in the number of posts available, from 3,730 assistant principal posts in 2009, to 2,653 in 2022 - a drop of 29%, during a time when student numbers have been rising.
Mr Gillespie warned that without a viable career structure "the teaching career will remain unattractive and the supply crisis will continue".
On state examinations, he urged all registered teachers to consider working with the State Examinations Commission, saying this would protect "the fair and objective assessment system" and ensure the system remains viable.
On pay, the union reiterated its position that any wage increase must, at a minimum, match inflation.
"A key priority in any negotiations must be to maintain the standards of living of our members in this cost-of-living crisis," Mr Gillespie said.
He referred to the establishment of the five new technological universities "as a work in progress", saying it must be funded properly, resourced and supported.
However, he said it is deeply disappointing that both the DKIT and IADT have not yet been included.
He also praised educators for their response to Ukrainians fleeing war in their homeland, saying so far management, teachers and other staff have managed the influx, despite existing pressures with large class sizes and lack of investment.
However, he warned "this wing and a prayer approach by Government must end" and 'the Government must significantly increase investment".
Nursing degree outside CAO system
Students will now be able to undertake a degree in nursing outside of the CAO system as part of an innovative programme which will be available from September in Donegal, Sligo and Mayo.
It is one of 14 degree programmes confirmed by Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris today.
Speaking at the TUI conference in Cork, Minister Harris said: "This has the potnetial to be revolutionary for our country and health service.
"Every year, students in further education get the highest marks in their PLC course in nursing and take the next Ryanair flight to help build the workforce of the NHS."
These courses will start in a further education college before students transition to a University or a Technological University.
It is part of a Government initiative announced last December which sees five clusters of Education & Training Boards and Higher Education Institutions involved across the country, providing 14 programmes in areas such as Business, Science, Computing, Construction Management, Performing Arts and Engineering.
The nursing programme will be available from next September in Donegal, Sligo and Mayo Education & Training Boards, with students completing their degree in St Angela's & the Atlantic Technological University.
Minister Harris also outlined new plans for disability supports for further education students, apprentices and trainees in line with supports currently available to students doing a PLC course.
Under the plan, students will be able to access vital supports including personal assistants and dedicated learner supports, from 2024, with every ETB having to spend a minimum percentage of their budget on disability supports.
This is seen as an important "next step" in broadening inclusion and access in third level education and increasing diversity of participation in apprenticeships and traineeships.
Mr Harris said: "Education can be rigid. People with disabilities often miss out on learning and employment opportunities, not because they lack any ability but because the system doesn't give them the tools they need.
"We won't solve this overnight but we cannot delay and I know working together we can make third level more accessible and better for all."
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Money 'flowing' into education sector
Minister Harris told the TUI conference that additional funding has begun 'flowing into the sector'.
He said there is €513 million more available for Department of Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science this year than last year, bringing funding for the sector to over €4 billion.
In addition, he said some €270 million has been secured for capital projects this year.
He praised the TUI's support for the transformation of the higher education landscape, moving from 14 Institutes of Technology to five Technological Universities and two Institutes of Technology.
"The legislation and the mission of the TUs is very clear - it is about skills development, regional access to higher education and working with enterprise to address the issues of a give area."
And he assured delegates that neither Dundalk and IADT Dun Laoighaire "are being forgotten or left behind", stating "any funding required will be forthcoming".
On the issue of pay and conditions for Adult Education Tutors, Minister Harris said they "were simply not acceptable".
He confirmed his department has finally reached an agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure to improve these tutors conditions, details of which it is hoped will be announced in the coming days.
However, TUI President Liz Farrell was critical of the Minister saying that when he was first appointed there had been "genuine hope and expectation that finally, we had our knight in shining armour, a person at the helm who would champion the worthy and important cause of further education".
"Unfortunately, Minister, despite the good intentions and promises, the tweets and the Tik Toks much work remains to be done."
Ms Farrell said that when it comes to Technological Universities, the Minister could have "all the strategic plans in the world" but if the Technological Universities "don't have the funding they need to do their job, then plans are just targets that can never be achieved".
