Call for ‘fairer’ system for school teacher retention

Local councillors want a fairer system regarding the enrolment of pupils required for the appointment and retention of teachers in schools.

The staffing of a school is based on the pupil schedule for the current year and enrolments on the previous September. Returns must be submitted by the end of September each year.

According to the latest departmental figures, of 362 schools nationwide with a principal and two mainstream teachers, six had a teaching post suppressed for the 2024/25 school year on the basis of falling enrolments.

Independent Cllr Brendan Fay said this can have a massive impact on both the schools affected and the community in which they are located.

Speaking at the October monthly meeting of Cavan County Council, he said that schools who fail to submit the requisite number by the deadline but pick up the numbers after “must go through an arduous” appeals process, with an even stricter set of criteria to meet.

“Who does this benefit?” asked Cllr Fay, telling his elected colleagues that many schools around Ireland are operating in a “state of flux” having gained extra teachers due to the arrival of Ukrainian refugees, but they now stand to lose these teachers once families move on.

Instead of a one-year turnaround, Cllr Fay suggested a three-year programme would be much “fairer” to all concerned - schools, teachers and indeed pupils and their families.

“The problem with common sense is it’s not very common,” remarked Cllr Fay whose motion was supported by Fianna Fáil’s Áine Smith, saying that smaller schools are an integral part of rural communities. She knew of one scenario where a school had attained a fourth teacher but has now lost the position, meaning that the classes have had to be divided between the three remaining teachers.

Teacher pupil ratio is “important”, she reminded, and voiced concern over the hangover that still remains from Covid and the impact on younger generations coming through.