Government urged to make teaching more attractive

The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) has highlighted the urgent need for the Department of Education to take action in retaining teachers within the system, alongside the ongoing struggle of recruiting new educators. The union's president, Anthony Quinn, emphasized that teachers are increasingly burdened by an expanding administrative workload, which diverts their focus from teaching and learning.

A recent survey of TUI members revealed that 92% of educators believe the bureaucratic workload and paperwork have intensified since they began their careers. Additionally, 92% of respondents acknowledged that the phenomenon of "initiative overload" is contributing to teacher burnout and principal teachers' exhaustion. Quinn pointed out that teachers are now required to dedicate excessive time to non-teaching tasks, resulting from the constant introduction of new programs, policies, and administrative demands.

This surge in administrative tasks has a detrimental impact on teacher retention, which the TUI believes must be addressed promptly. Quinn also expressed concerns over reduced pension benefits and suggested that returning teachers from overseas should have their service credited accordingly. Furthermore, he called for the reinstatement of certain allowances, which were eliminated in 2012, making recruitment and retention more challenging in specific schools.

Quinn stressed the importance of reinstating allowances for Special Education Needs (SEN) qualification, teaching through Irish, and teaching on an island. He argued that these reinstatements would significantly benefit these schools' recruitment and retention efforts. Teachers themselves have voiced their concerns during conference sessions, raising issues related to excessive workloads. The government is urged to prioritize these measures in order to improve the teaching environment and better support educators.