Decision on PostGrad Offer

redmons2

Hi,

I am looking for some advice. I got offered a place for the postgrad in maynoth for sept 2011. My subjects are Maths, Physics and Computers. Does anyone know what the job market is like for these subjects ? I am in a fulltime job and am unsure whether to take it. I had my degree assessed by the teaching council and after being ripped off by them they have agreed on me completing 7 modules and they will recognise my degree. I am guessing I will have to do this the year after the postgrad so it will be two years out of work and then I am not sure if I would be guaranteed a job. I have a mortgage and a child so in a long winded way I am asking am I mad going back will I get a job when I finish with my subjects ? Also does anyone know when the course starts is it early or late Sept ?

Thank you

dory

Late August is the answer to the last question - it's when schools go back.

As for whether or not this is right for you - no one can really answer that. But if I were in your position I would be trying to get those modules done before doing the postgrad (online, evening etc) to make sure my degree is ok.
Other than that I would make sure I had a big chunk of savings as your starting wage will probably be a lot smaller than you're on now as you'll get a few hours for 9 months of the year (few years before you'll get a proper contract really).

redmons2

Thank you for opinion dory. Thinking about it, what you are saying make sense about getting the modules done first. Does anyone know can you defer your position on the postgrad for the year ?

dory

No you can't defer, but if you got it this year you'd probably get it some other year too.

Rosita

dory wrote: »

No you can't defer, but if you got it this year you'd probably get it some other year too.

This has always (in recent years anyway) been stated on the PGDE literature but someone on this forum recently cited a case where someone in their school did defer the place (on the basis of a pregnancy as far as I recall). How they got around this clearly stated condition I'm not sure but apparently they did.

dory

Yea I read that before too. I just was too lazy to type, 'No, unless in exceptional circumstances' but from what the OP has said so far, it sounds like his circumstances are not exceptional so in reality he probably won't be allowed defer.

monkeerina

a warning: the pgde will become a 2 year course in 2012....
and the TC are completely incompetent and inconsistent. I wouldn't trust them on ANYTHING unless you have written confirmation of EXACTLY what they require...in detail. This is next near impossible to get from them as they try to be forensically legal when in fact none of them have a background in law....so yeah, goodluck! Teaching jobs...UK/UAE crying out for maths teachers and you'd definitely be guaranteed a job. Ireland: no, because despite the new regulations brought in this January in relation to a school not being allowed to employ a 'maths teacher' who is not recognized by the TC, schools are still allowed to hire teachers who, say are recognized science/english/whatever teachers and then give them all the maths hours. The TC say that there is no way they could possibly stop this...which they obviously would, given that they are technically incompetant.
It is a well known fact that at least 70-80% of newly qualified teachers spend 3 years minimum (usually 5 I believe) subbing or working part-time before they are given a full time post.
In short, unless you really really want to be a teacher and have contacts with a principal or something or are willing to move to the UK forget it. Sorry to be negative, but it's the reality.

monkeerina

just saw that you've physics...that should go in your favour big time.