IPPN

Published: 29 October 2008

Source : Irish Independent

Wednesday October 29 2008

Young people are flooding back into the teaching profession as our economic woes deepen. But their futures are under a cloud as a result of the Budget.

Competition for places on primary teaching courses sharpened this year, and the number of points at the Leaving Cert required to get into training colleges increased across the board.

Less than a decade ago, at the height of the Celtic Tiger boom, morale in the profession was at an all-time low.

Poor discipline in classrooms, perceived low pay and the more lucrative opportunities elsewhere made teaching unattractive to many young people. At their union conferences, teachers were inclined to moan about the diminishing status of the profession.

Until the Budget cuts hit a fortnight ago, things seemed to be looking up.

With property barons and bankers on the ropes and secure jobs in the private sector thin on the ground, students turned to one of the few sectors of the economy that seemed to be growing.

Opportunity

With a potential salary of over €70,000 a year, incomparable holidays, rock-solid security, and a guaranteed pension, it was hardly surprising that teaching was again becoming fashionable.

But then the Budget bombshell struck.

Eamonn Maguire trains student for interviews for post-graduate primary teaching courses. He says: "I had people from all walks of life who wanted to go into teaching. They included investment bankers, an assistant bank manager, accountants and a well-known journalist.''

Through his training operation, Croi na Gaeilge, Eamonn Maguire coaches aspiring teachers in how to handle the college interview in Irish and English.

"Many of these people were leaving highly paid jobs to pursue a career in teaching. In many cases they may have harboured a desire to teach for a long time. They saw an opportunity to get into the profession.

"Ten years ago young people who wanted to be teachers were thin on the ground, but that has changed dramatically.

"In the present environment teaching seems like a reliable job. It may be hard to believe, but there is a perception that it is less stressful than other occupations.''

Primary teaching is seen as particularly attractive to parents, because of the short hours and the long holidays. Primary teachers are required to work just 183 days every year, and most are finished by 2.30pm each day.

Until the Budget, demand for primary teachers seemed to be growing, because of the projected growth in the number of school-going children in the country.

Skills

According to the INTO, the number of school pupils is expected to grow by between 50,000 and 100,000 by 2013.

While the school-going population may be growing, the job prospects of aspiring teachers have been damaged by the Budget with predictions of over 1,000 job losses.

The tightening job situation in the general economy also means that more applicants will be applying for jobs.

Anecdotal evidence from internet discussion forums on sites such as educationposts.ie indicated that second-level teachers, in particular, were already finding it hard to find work, even before the Budget.

Although teaching is now a female-dominated profession, Eamonn Maguire noticed a renewed interest in teaching among men over the past few months.

"I believe a lot of these new teachers, who have experience of other jobs, will be welcome in the profession. Their skills in fields such as business will be useful in schools.''

Growing insecurity in other middle-class professions may have been a factor in the pre-Budget surge in popularity of teaching.

But students who regard it as an easy option may be in for a rude awakening.

"It may be a rewarding occupation,'' said a spokesman for the INTO.

"But the training is demanding. Anybody who goes into it thinking it will be easy is likely to be put off by the rigorous probation period and the Department of Education inspections.''

The total number of applications to the CAO this year rose by 3.4pc to 68,112, but demand for teaching jumped by more than twice that rate, with first preferences up by 8.3pc to 5,473.

School-leavers were clearly influenced by the growth of primary pupil numbers.

The surge in demand contributed to pushing the points up to 475 at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick and to 470 at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra.

Elsewhere, the points cut-off for main intake teacher training courses were: Colaiste Mhuire, Marino, 465, Froebel College, 460, and Church of Ireland College, 410, with an interview.

The figures show that teaching continues to attract high-calibre students.

After the Budget, these aspiring teachers must be wondering whether there will be any jobs for them when they are qualified.

Chalking up a good salary

The salary of teachers in Irish schools varies according to their qualifications, years of service, and responsibilities.

> An experienced teacher with 20 years in the profession at primary or second level can expect to earn over €70,000 per year.

> At the top of the scale, some principals earn over €100,000.

> Primary teachers start their careers on a salary of just under €40,000, with second level teachers starting on slightly more than that.

Why I want to be a teacher

Paula Finn has had an ambition to become a primary teacher ever since she started a degree in music and geography in university.

Paula (23), from Mitchelstown, Co Cork, is doing an online post-graduate course in education at Hibernia college.

"I am attracted to teaching because I feel that it is a rewarding career," says Paula, who has already worked as a substitute teacher.

"It is an interesting job, because there is a lot of variety and every day is different," she adds.

Before the Budget, Paula was hopeful that there would be a lot of jobs in primary schools in teaching.

Since then, there have been dire predictions of up to 1,000 job losses in the profession.

"I know that there is going to be a lot of competition for places," says the UCC arts graduate. "As well as the students training to be teachers, there are a lot of Irish people training to be teachers at colleges in Britain.

"When I qualify, I won't just be able to walk into a job."