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Substitute Teacher opportunities

  • 20-08-2019 10:45am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41


    Hey guys,

    Looking to sub in primary or post primary with my university degree, is this possible and if so what sites can I apply to? I am based in the west of Ireland but I am more than willing to travel.

    Or do I simply start going in to each individual school and personally speaking to the principal.


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5 Dorit


    Audioh8 wrote: »
    Hey guys,

    Looking to sub in primary or post primary with my university degree, is this possible and if so what sites can I apply to? I am based in the west of Ireland but I am more than willing to travel.

    Or do I simply start going in to each individual school and personally speaking to the principal.


    You must be a qualified teacher to sub in schools in Ireland. The PME takes two years to complete. You cannot work as a teacher unless you are one.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41 Audioh8


    Dorit wrote: »
    You must be a qualified teacher to sub in schools in Ireland. The PME takes two years to complete. You cannot work as a teacher unless you are one.


    I have been granted a teaching number through the Route 3 option by the teaching council. So as far as I am aware I can cover for any short term supervision needed by a school.

    I am wondering is there a platform to try and advertise myself from, or do principals call someone they know etc etc


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,315 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/News-Events/Latest-News/Teacher-Education-Qualification-requirement-under-Route-3-%E2%80%93-Further-Education.html

    From 01 January 2019, in line with the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016 and Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2016, all applicants for registration under Route 3 Further Education will be required to hold an appropriate Council accredited teacher education qualification. (From TC website).

    With hundreds of fully qualified teachers out of work, the TC have surpassed themselves if they are allowing unqualified people take work that qualified people should be getting.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,140 ✭✭✭mtoutlemonde


    Audioh8 wrote: »
    I have been granted a teaching number through the Route 3 option by the teaching council. So as far as I am aware I can cover for any short term supervision needed by a school.

    I am wondering is there a platform to try and advertise myself from, or do principals call someone they know etc etc

    You may have a Teaching Council number but you are NOT a teacher. Why should you be taking work from people who have trained for two years at huge expense?

    Teaching isn't the easy job people think it is and you probably wouldn't last too long as you wouldn't have the techniques for dealing with disruption etc. Students can smell inexperience a mile off. I don't know about primary but definitely at post primary.
    spurious wrote: »
    https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/News-Events/Latest-News/Teacher-Education-Qualification-requirement-under-Route-3-%E2%80%93-Further-Education.html

    From 01 January 2019, in line with the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016 and Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2016, all applicants for registration under Route 3 Further Education will be required to hold an appropriate Council accredited teacher education qualification. (From TC website).

    With hundreds of fully qualified teachers out of work, the TC have surpassed themselves if they are allowing unqualified people take work that qualified people should be getting.

    I was delighted to see this - I have brought it up many times at union meetings.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,962 ✭✭✭r93kaey5p2izun


    spurious wrote: »
    https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/News-Events/Latest-News/Teacher-Education-Qualification-requirement-under-Route-3-%E2%80%93-Further-Education.html

    From 01 January 2019, in line with the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016 and Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2016, all applicants for registration under Route 3 Further Education will be required to hold an appropriate Council accredited teacher education qualification. (From TC website).

    With hundreds of fully qualified teachers out of work, the TC have surpassed themselves if they are allowing unqualified people take work that qualified people should be getting.

    They will still register them without a teaching qualification, but give them 3 years to get one. We will have to wait and see whether they ever actually enforce it or whether they just keep extending the time allowed indefinitely.

    OP you will definitely get subbing in Dublin if willing to move. Schools are desperate. My former school is currently ringing around all contacts looking for anyone willing to stand in a classroom.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,612 ✭✭✭tscul32


    If there are so many qualified teachers looking for work then why are so many schools desperate for subs. I'm on the board of management at my boy's primary school and there is a big struggle to get subs. We have a couple of retirees and the odd student, one time we had a secondary teacher in and others we've just had to split classes. One of my secondary son's friends has had several different teachers for geography in one year and many cancelled classes for a lack of subs. Some schools would rather have someone unqualified than noone.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭joeharte123


    tscul32 wrote: »
    If there are so many qualified teachers looking for work then why are so many schools desperate for subs. I'm on the board of management at my boy's primary school and there is a big struggle to get subs. We have a couple of retirees and the odd student, one time we had a secondary teacher in and others we've just had to split classes. One of my secondary son's friends has had several different teachers for geography in one year and many cancelled classes for a lack of subs. Some schools would rather have someone unqualified than noone.

    Schools do struggle to get subs and of course they would turn to the unqualified to get them out of a hole and keep things moving. I have also heard the other side of the argument too where there are teachers leaving the profession as they cannot find work in their subjects.
    Maybe it is down to poor management across the board? There still appears to be an inflated amount of teachers qualifying from the PME with the same 2 or 3 subjects and they’re fighting over hours in schools, which aren’t in there for them. I don’t know why these teachers don’t sub full time!


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,315 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Because a sub to come to Dublin and get even basic accommodation would need to be GUARANTEED hours. The landlords don't want to know about S and S robbing the sub hours from part-time teachers.

    Looking for work and looking for subbing are not at all the same thing.

    Put up a proper, full hours job and people will apply. Split in into three crappy hours 'jobs' and there is a crisis.

    Look at education posts (a week before school starts).
    THREE permanent posts on offer.
    ZERO full hour CIDs
    TEN RPT contract jobs
    THIRTY ONE Fixed term

    Something very rotten in the whole thing.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,962 ✭✭✭r93kaey5p2izun


    They won't apply in Dublin spurious. There are plenty of unfilled 22h vacancies in Dublin, including some permanent. My old school has dropped Spanish, Metalwork and Chemistry as impossible to recruit - all were advertised as permanent. Yes, it's due to costs in Dublin - even proper job offers won't overcome this. Meanwhile, subs of any sort are in demand.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,315 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    There is also the added complication of the TC rejecting so many people with 'foreign' qualifications.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,140 ✭✭✭mtoutlemonde


    spurious wrote: »
    There is also the added complication of the TC rejecting so many people with 'foreign' qualifications.

    Who are actually teachers unlike the OP who considers himself/herself qualified to sub in schools. I wonder can they do temp nursing or locum work as a GP.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,612 ✭✭✭tscul32


    So the system is the problem, not the OP. If a school would rather have the op in than send students home then why should the op refuse the work. The op won't be taking work from anyone else as was implied in the first few replies.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,140 ✭✭✭mtoutlemonde


    tscul32 wrote: »
    So the system is the problem, not the OP. If a school would rather have the op in than send students home then why should the op refuse the work. The op won't be taking work from anyone else as was implied in the first few replies.

    For me, it's the 'I have a degree ... I'll chance my arm as a teacher' that annoys me. People think that teaching is a handy number. Why does the OP want to want work as a teacher and not in the area they trained? In my previous example I said that you can't sub as a nurse or a doctor just because you have a degree but it's ok to do so as a teacher because anyone can do it.

    I can't see any school really taking on unqualified people to cover classes as I said previously they are not qualified to deal with behaviour etc. and if something serious happens i.e. a student gets injured - the school would have a lot of answers to give and the publicity who are always ready to knock teachers and schools.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭joeharte123


    For me, it's the 'I have a degree ... I'll chance my arm as a teacher' that annoys me. People think that teaching is a handy number. Why does the OP want to want work as a teacher and not in the area they trained? In my previous example I said that you can't sub as a nurse or a doctor just because you have a degree but it's ok to do so as a teacher because anyone can do it.

    I can't see any school really taking on unqualified people to cover classes as I said previously they are not qualified to deal with behaviour etc. and if something serious happens i.e. a student gets injured - the school would have a lot of answers to give and the publicity who are always ready to knock teachers and schools.

    Anyone unqualified in a classroom will only ever be there as a last resort to bridge the gap until they find someone qualified and thus, more suited to the position. OP is chancing his/her arm getting into a school to cover the odd class here and there and not actually teach. Over the years I’ve heard it does happens but literally for the last 4 weeks of the year when schools are stuck.
    I haven’t heard of this happening in a long time so maybe the TC are addressing the issue.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,612 ✭✭✭tscul32


    There are two things needed for teaching as far as I see it - the skills to teach, and the knowledge of what you're teaching. Say the op has a degree in Spanish and a school needs a sub for a Spanish class. They're missing the teaching skills but have the knowledge. A maths teacher subbing in that class has the skills but not the knowledge. When I was in school (not an overt amount of challenging behaviour), we'd have preferred someone who might be able to help us if we'd upcoming exams or had been left worksheets, etc.. Of course this wouldn't work in all classes and neither person would be ideal, but sometimes the qualified teacher who has no Spanish wouldn't necessarily be the best choice.
    Maybe the op has had no luck finding employment in their own field. If I'm correct Route 3 involves qualification in further education, so not totally ignorant of education. Maybe they're deciding whether or not to go for a PME and want to see if they'd like it. It's a two year fulltime expensive course, not to be undertaken unless you're sure about it.
    The op hasn't decided they are eligible to sub.... the DOE has. And the principal who takes them on has decided it's better than having an empty classroom. I presume the op is unemployed, would rather not be, is eligible to sub and earn some wages, but you're acting like they should turn down any offers they get.
    None of this should be the case, the system is massively flawed but that is not on the OP who would be stupid to turn down a day's work if they're offered it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 809 ✭✭✭Blaizes


    I really hope they are closing off this loop hole now. Allowing unqualified people to sub isn’t right. Earlier in the year here on boards qualified teachers were talking about waiting by the phone to get called in to school to sub. These people should get first priority for work, they have trained and qualified, they deserve it. Hopefully principals are seeing it this way as well.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭joeharte123


    Blaizes wrote: »
    I really hope they are closing off this loop hole now. Allowing unqualified people to sub isn’t right. Earlier in the year here on boards qualified teachers were talking about waiting by the phone to get called in to school to sub. These people should get first priority for work, they have trained and qualified, they deserve it. Hopefully principals are seeing it this way as well.

    I 100% agree with you. However, why are there people waiting by the phone to get called for subbing when there is any amount of subbing out there?

    I can only imagine the vast majority principals only use unqualified people as a last resort.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,315 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    I 100% agree with you. However, why are there people waiting by the phone to get called for subbing when there is any amount of subbing out there?

    I can only imagine the vast majority principals only use unqualified people as a last resort.

    In the old days, it was worth a sub's time to hang around the staff room and they could pick up classes all over the place, often getting a full day's work out of it.
    With the S&S scheme, most potential subbing hours are covered in house, which might leave one or two classes uncovered in a day. It simply isn't worth a sub's time to travel for two or three classes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 910 ✭✭✭howareyakid


    There has been a subbing crisis going on for the last few years now which is in stark contrast with the situation about four or five years ago when qualified teachers (including myself) were scrapping around for subbing days and texasub offers would be snapped up in seconds. These things are cyclical I guess and it might not be long until it’s back to that. I agree that I unqualified teachers should be the last resort for schools but I don’t necessarily agree with posters saying that they wouldn’t have the skills. I personally think it comes down to the personality and common sense of the individual and often, candidates with skills and training in other areas have a lot to offer.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭joeharte123


    spurious wrote: »
    In the old days, it was worth a sub's time to hang around the staff room and they could pick up classes all over the place, often getting a full day's work out of it.
    With the S&S scheme, most potential subbing hours are covered in house, which might leave one or two classes uncovered in a day. It simply isn't worth a sub's time to travel for two or three classes.

    Things have changed over the years, S&S is one of the major issues that is for sure. I suppose the rate of pay for teachers today is quite poor relative to most other professions in Ireland, so I understand that going to a school to sit in one 40 minute class isn't economical and really is quite impractical. Principals are better off using teachers within the respective school to cover that class, PME student teachers etc.

    What I'm talking about is what I see posted up on educationposts - especially from now until Christmas. Schools have been advertising for full time substitute teachers that would cover another teacher within the school for paid sick leave, school trips etc. These advertisements have been posted throughout the summer for the coming year. ETBs have a panel of substitute teachers they select from too (although I believe it is rather difficult to get selected from this depending on your ETB). So, basically I'm wondering how there are still teachers still without work when we are led to believe there are loads of subbing hours. :confused:


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,397 ✭✭✭✭rainbowtrout


    Things have changed over the years, S&S is one of the major issues that is for sure. I suppose the rate of pay for teachers today is quite poor relative to most other professions in Ireland, so I understand that going to a school to sit in one 40 minute class isn't economical and really is quite impractical. Principals are better off using teachers within the respective school to cover that class, PME student teachers etc.

    What I'm talking about is what I see posted up on educationposts - especially from now until Christmas. Schools have been advertising for full time substitute teachers that would cover another teacher within the school for paid sick leave, school trips etc. These advertisements have been posted throughout the summer for the coming year. ETBs have a panel of substitute teachers they select from too (although I believe it is rather difficult to get selected from this depending on your ETB). So, basically I'm wondering how there are still teachers still without work when we are led to believe there are loads of subbing hours. :confused:

    Plenty of work in Dublin, but you can't live in the most expensive part of the country on unreliable subbing wages. A lot don't want to live in Dublin and pay extortionate rent even on a full contract.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,984 ✭✭✭Dickie10


    i have a feeling that its policy now to drop teachers after one year in a job and give them to another teacher starting out not in contract. 5 others that were teaching there subjects like me in there first qualified year were given no contract this year and let go.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭joeharte123


    Dickie10 wrote: »
    i have a feeling that its policy now to drop teachers after one year in a job and give them to another teacher starting out not in contract. 5 others that were teaching there subjects like me in there first qualified year were given no contract this year and let go.

    Subjects play a huge role in chances of getting hours. There are huge amounts of qualified teachers (and qualifying 'soon-to-be teachers) with particular subjects that spend 10 years trying to nail down a job, never do so and end up leaving the profession due to lack of employment security.
    On the other hand subjects like French, Irish, German, Spanish and Home Ec would walk into subbing hours anywhere in the country and would have a good shot at a contract teaching their subjects in a school anywhere in the country outside of Dublin.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,984 ✭✭✭Dickie10


    yes very true most of the people i mentioned are geography, history, business. has anyone got any tips on what type of schools to do subbing in, if faced with plenty of choice


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭joeharte123


    Dickie10 wrote: »
    yes very true most of the people i mentioned are geography, history, business. has anyone got any tips on what type of schools to do subbing in, if faced with plenty of choice

    Geography is the most common followed by History I believe. So many Geog & History teachers qualify and leave the profession after not even being able to get subbing hours. Waste of money training up.

    Regarding Business, I'm not too sure as I haven't heard of teachers qualified in this having the same degree of trouble finding hours as the latter two subjects.

    Schools in Dublin are the most in demand. Anywhere outside of Dublin is significantly more difficult.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,315 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Outside the Dublin accommodation issue, it really is not that difficult to use timetable info/teacher retirement requests/ages of existing staff/information from teaching colleges etc. to maintain and plan for a supply of teachers in the necessary subject areas.

    A small little section of the Department used to manage it, before we got inundated with quangos.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭joeharte123


    spurious wrote: »
    Outside the Dublin accommodation issue, it really is not that difficult to use timetable info/teacher retirement requests/ages of existing staff/information from teaching colleges etc. to maintain and plan for a supply of teachers in the necessary subject areas.

    A small little section of the Department used to manage it, before we got inundated with quangos.

    Agree. Would save many wasting money training up with subjects they'll never get a job in. Other professions do it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 343 ✭✭emilymemily


    Where are all these subbing jobs? I had a meltdown today stressing about being unemployed for the coming year, ive reached the stage were im refusing to fill out anymore ridiculous applications, one wants me to list all of my grades from each subject from each of the 4 years of my undergrad, I had to go route out 6 year old transcripts, and for what? Theyre never going to contact me anyway.
    I had one interview this Summer for a tutor panel, the requirements were a train the trainer level 6, im a qualified teacher, I never heard back from the interview, assuming now I didnt get placed on the panel, interview wasnt bad, not great there was room for improvement but ive had worse, im very knowledgeable in my subject, im qualified with experience but it still wasnt good enough for them.
    I have teacher friends living in Dublin who couldnt get work in Dublin, one got a handful of hours a week in Atlone, another got a few hours in Arklow.
    A Youthreach where I did placement had a teacher out on Maternity, the job was advertised, I didnt apply as I was working at the time but I know for a fact the job was applied to as I know two girls who were interviewed, excellent teachers with a great way with the kids, they didnt get the job, soon discovered that instead of just hiring a teacher they decided to stop running the class for the year.

    I cant understand it, are schools and ETB's excessively picky? What are they looking for?

    As for the FE regulations, having fully qualified in this area it sickens me that theyre still allowing people without qualifications to register under route 3, theyve been saying we had 3 years to get a qualification for years now and it still hasnt been implemented, after these tutors 3 years is up, they can apply for extensions.

    Ive seen it time and time again, unqualified people getting teaching jobs in ETB's and schools over qualified teachers because they know someone in the ETB or on the panel.

    Excuse the rant but im so incredibly frustrated with this shambles of a system, no wonder so many teachers are leaving the profession.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 94 ✭✭Snapgal


    In the last few years I have not been able to go out doing orals as was told I had to find a TC registered teacher to sub who is impossible to find especially only for two weeks. Even for subbing like maternity have noticed all advertised on education.ie Saw an ad yesterday for German in school in Dublin for job for two weeks for 2.4 hrs!! Thought what a joke. Why can’t there be a sub panel in each county/area and principals can check there first.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 94 ✭✭Snapgal


    Subjects play a huge role in chances of getting hours. There are huge amounts of qualified teachers (and qualifying 'soon-to-be teachers) with particular subjects that spend 10 years trying to nail down a job, never do so and end up leaving the profession due to lack of employment security.
    On the other hand subjects like French, Irish, German, Spanish and Home Ec would walk into subbing hours anywhere in the country and would have a good shot at a contract teaching their subjects in a school anywhere in the country outside of Dublin.

    This is not true I have Gaeilge plus MFL subjects,16 years experience - 5 years in different schools since relocating closer to home and nowhere near CID. Have been applying for very few jobs in 3 different counties - an hr commute from me and other teachers I know with those subjects have no proper RPT jobs for next year. It’s not your subject it’s who you know especially. A very low hour Irish RPT contract I went for recently principal was not there. Not one word of Irish spoken to me. Knew deep down I didn’t have job but emailed the school later to see if was successful- no manners to even reply to my email. This thing that you will walk into a job with Irish and other so called in demand subjects really annoys me - people nearly look at me now as if something wrong with me that must be a very bad teacher when I can’t get work. I’’m so close to leaving teaching now after all my years.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭joeharte123


    Snapgal wrote: »
    This is not true I have Gaeilge plus MFL subjects,16 years experience - 5 years in different schools since relocating closer to home and nowhere near CID. Have been applying for very few jobs in 3 different counties - an hr commute from me and other teachers I know with those subjects have no proper RPT jobs for next year. It’s not your subject it’s who you know especially. A very low hour Irish RPT contract I went for recently principal was not there. Not one word of Irish spoken to me. Knew deep down I didn’t have job but emailed the school later to see if was successful- no manners to even reply to my email. This thing that you will walk into a job with Irish and other so called in demand subjects really annoys me - people nearly look at me now as if something wrong with me that must be a very bad teacher when I can’t get work. I’’m so close to leaving teaching now after all my years.

    I understand your frustration and I wouldn’t think there’s “something wrong with you” if you’re finding it hard to get work.
    Irish is still a more in demand subject compared to others, namely geography and history. Just out of interest, is Dublin in your range?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,264 ✭✭✭deiseindublin


    Is there any way Boards teachers could post their subject and location and others might be able to match them up with hours? I know my school is looking for a few teachers but can't find them.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    I recently tried to have a rational conversation with someone who was perplexed and annoyed that after going to college as a mature student there were no jobs in the area they were qualified in the rural area they lived in and as a lone parent, they could not move. In Dublin and surrounding areas, they would be snapped up.

    If you live in an area with a declining population and from that a declining school population its is going to be more difficult to get a job in teaching that is a huge factor and there is now way around it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭joeharte123


    mariaalice wrote: »
    I recently tried to have a rational conversation with someone who was perplexed and annoyed that after going to college as a mature student there were no jobs in the area they were qualified in the rural area they lived in and as a lone parent, they could not move. In Dublin and surrounding areas, they would be snapped up.

    If you live in an area with a declining population and from that a declining school population its is going to be more difficult to get a job in teaching that is a huge factor and there is now way around it.

    How restricted was she to her location?


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    How restricted was she to her location?

    A lot because of being a lone parent.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 809 ✭✭✭Blaizes


    mariaalice wrote: »
    I recently tried to have a rational conversation with someone who was perplexed and annoyed that after going to college as a mature student there were no jobs in the area they were qualified in the rural area they lived in and as a lone parent, they could not move. In Dublin and surrounding areas, they would be snapped up.

    If you live in an area with a declining population and from that a declining school population its is going to be more difficult to get a job in teaching that is a huge factor and there is now way around it.

    It’s true there are less jobs in smaller population centers, the problem with travel is that if very small hours are on offer( the case now with some teaching jobs) then the travel costs may not make the job feasible, That’s before even childcare considerations as would be the case with your friend.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭joeharte123


    Blaizes wrote: »
    It’s true there are less jobs in smaller population centers, the problem with travel is that if very small hours are on offer( the case now with some teaching jobs) then the travel costs may not make the job feasible, That’s before even childcare considerations as would be the case with your friend.

    Sometimes you may need to look further afield in search of the longer contracts as you never know how long you could be waiting for a contract in your local area. It’s the lack of job security, moving from maternity leave to maternity in different schools every year for a few weeks here and there; and before you know it you’ve spent 15 years doing this!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 809 ✭✭✭Blaizes


    Sometimes you may need to look further afield in search of the longer contracts as you never know how long you could be waiting for a contract in your local area. It’s the lack of job security, moving from maternity leave to maternity in different schools every year for a few weeks here and there; and before you know it you’ve spent 15 years doing this!

    That’s it, the lack of job security, v. difficult. A teacher on vtf was talking about how they do it in France, seems selection procedure from day one as in even getting to teacher training college is very stringent, then teachers on qualifying are sent to schools in different parts of France with no choice regarding location. Seems what are deemed the best teachers are sent to the more challenging schools. Was v. interesting to read how other countries approach teaching appointments/ recruitment.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭joeharte123


    Blaizes wrote: »
    That’s it, the lack of job security, v. difficult. A teacher on vtf was talking about how they do it in France, seems selection procedure from day one as in even getting to teacher training college is very stringent, then teachers on qualifying are sent to schools in different parts of France with no choice regarding location. Seems what are deemed the best teachers are sent to the more challenging schools. MWas v. interesting to read how other countries approach teaching appointments/ recruitment.

    I do believe it is unfair for teachers to be allowed qualify in particular subjects where they don’t stand a chance in getting hours to teach their subjects. So many end up leaving and never teaching after their student teaching days because of the lack of jobs. It should be regulated to some extent (an example colleges would only be allowed to take in a certain amount of student teachers in subject X as there are already too many qualified in subject X)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,264 ✭✭✭deiseindublin


    Although, I was shocked talking to an Italian teacher this year, said he was PT for 15 years without getting paid for the summer because he hadn't 'enough' children. Appointments are on a point based system and you get points for subjects, points for number of children etc, and the younger ones were catching up with him on points as he only had 2 kids.

    I thought it sounded like a hysterical and very outdated system.

    Can you imagine having fertility problems and never managing to get paid for your summer?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 343 ✭✭emilymemily


    Considering the amount of Universities offering the PME in this country, every year taking in 30 - 40 students in some cases for each course, maybe more for others, + teachers training in UK and Hibernia pumping out hundreds of teachers each year, the teaching council registering unqualified teachers, its no wonder there arent enough jobs.
    Ive seen courses in other areas unrelated to teaching only run once every 2 or 3 years, surely something like this could be implemented were teacher training courses are concerned?
    Im surprised that colleges arent taking action on this.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,315 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Im surprised that colleges arent taking action on this.

    In the words of the great Swedish philosophers, 'Money, Money, Money'.

    However, it's not as if the warnings about proper jobs are not all over the Internet, so people should research thoroughly before parting with the cash, especially in the madly over-subscribed subjects.

    Yes, things change over four, or even two years, but people forget there is already a long queue of qualified people waiting ahead of them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 529 ✭✭✭snor


    We really seem to be at crisis level in this country With second level teaching and very little seems to be happening about it.
    My local school has one teacher taking both HL maths classes as cannot find a replacement teacher - that’s 53 students in the class.
    Another local school had to drop German as couldn't get a German teacher - 6th years came back last September and no one to teach them German.

    My niece has 3 separate Irish teachers in one given week for the entire year.

    These are all well established schools in good areas - makes you wonder how the Déis schools manage to recruit at all!

    Meanwhile, my sister Has a Science degree and Masters, along with her PME but the teaching council will only register her for LC biology - not Science - as she is short a couple of physics credits!

    Crazy system and getting worse every year - heaven knows what it will be like by the time my children get to secondary school.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 343 ✭✭emilymemily


    spurious wrote: »
    In the words of the great Swedish philosophers, 'Money, Money, Money'.

    However, it's not as if the warnings about proper jobs are not all over the Internet, so people should research thoroughly before parting with the cash, especially in the madly over-subscribed subjects.

    Yes, things change over four, or even two years, but people forget there is already a long queue of qualified people waiting ahead of them.

    I dont think it is very well known outside of the teaching community who are directly effected. Anyone ive said it too, outside of teaching has said to me that they thought there was a shortage of teachers and dont seem to grasp that there really are no jobs, its not just a bit of a struggle upon graduating, its an ongoing issue within the profession. When I said it to a friend of mine that I was struggling to get work, he said awe you just have to build up your hours, it'll be grand.
    Had someone else comment that I am wanting a full time permanent job now and that im just moaning, which is not the case at all, id be delighted to get any hours, anywhere.
    My hairdresser told me her daughter is going into secondary teaching, I told her theres no jobs, she said awe im sure she'll get something.

    I dont think people outside of graduate teachers understand the extent of the problem and Universities have their own part to play in this as theyre not warning students before applying for the courses.
    Coleraine had 500 applicants for art teaching 2 years ago, thats just one college offering the course.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭joeharte123


    snor wrote: »
    We really seem to be at crisis level in this country With second level teaching and very little seems to be happening about it.
    My local school has one teacher taking both HL maths classes as cannot find a replacement teacher - that’s 53 students in the class.
    Another local school had to drop German as couldn't get a German teacher - 6th years came back last September and no one to teach them German.

    My niece has 3 separate Irish teachers in one given week for the entire year.

    These are all well established schools in good areas - makes you wonder how the Déis schools manage to recruit at all!

    Meanwhile, my sister Has a Science degree and Masters, along with her PME but the teaching council will only register her for LC biology - not Science - as she is short a couple of physics credits!

    Crazy system and getting worse every year - heaven knows what it will be like by the time my children get to secondary school.

    That seem's chaotic for the students with 3 different Irish teachers! Is it possible 2 out of the 3 Irish teachers teaching your niece and her class are student teachers training?

    In the case of the Science qualifications, many Science teachers don't meet the criteria to teacher JC Science but most schools allow them to anyways!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 529 ✭✭✭snor


    That seem's chaotic for the students with 3 different Irish teachers! Is it possible 2 out of the 3 Irish teachers teaching your niece and her class are student teachers training?


    That was my initial thought, but my sister was saying two of the 3 were more mature men - she thought they were retired! Hope the situation improves this year. Other lady has been in thr school a while.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 529 ✭✭✭snor


    In the case of the Science qualifications, many Science teachers don't meet the criteria to teacher JC Science but most schools allow them to anyways![/quote]


    Does this allow her to apply for advertised JC Science positions though? She didn’t think so. She’s in Middle East teaching st the moment but hopes to come hkmd next year. Thanks for info.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭joeharte123


    snor wrote: »
    In the case of the Science qualifications, many Science teachers don't meet the criteria to teacher JC Science but most schools allow them to anyways!


    Does this allow her to apply for advertised JC Science positions though? She didn’t think so. She’s in Middle East teaching st the moment but hopes to come hkmd next year. Thanks for info.[/QUOTE]

    I see no harm in her applying for the position. I take it she’s teaching a science related subject in the Middle East? Mention that on the CV. I saw there were a few Biology posts up during the summer, actually.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,140 ✭✭✭mtoutlemonde


    Does this allow her to apply for advertised JC Science positions though? She didn’t think so. She’s in Middle East teaching st the moment but hopes to come hkmd next year. Thanks for info.

    I see no harm in her applying for the position. I take it she’s teaching a science related subject in the Middle East? Mention that on the CV. I saw there were a few Biology posts up during the summer, actually.[/QUOTE]

    While I don't think there is any harm applying the school may come under fire if a qualified candidate i.e. registered for science on registration is not shortlisted or successful at interview and find out and appeal the decision. I don't know if this ever happened but a DP told me this years ago. Things have changed with subbing now though.

    With pay .... is a person teaching a subject not on their certificate - qualified or unqualified - I know for definite the ETBs class you as unqualified.

    Inspections - will the department question qualifications at WSE?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 rossean


    Is there any way Boards teachers could post their subject and location and others might be able to match them up with hours? I know my school is looking for a few teachers but can't find them.

    This is an idea. Have French and Irish as subjects and am looking for subbing in the west at the moment. I know most of the jobs are in the east but one lives in hope!


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