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Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
More than 600 teaching posts remain vacant ahead of new school term
More than 600 teaching posts remain vacant ahead of the new school term, as unions warn the recruitment and retention crisis in schools continues unabated due to ineffective Government action. A week before many second-level schools are due to reopen around the country, 284 unfilled second-level teaching posts in subjects like English, biology, and maths are still being advertised. At primary level, 140 mainstream classroom teacher posts remain advertised on along with a further 180 roles for special education teachers, special class teachers, supply teachers and support teachers. The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) said it was consistent that hundreds of teaching posts remain unfilled in mid-August each year, despite schools having worked 'relentlessly' to try and put a full complement of teaching staff in place. It comes as the second-level teachers' union launched the findings of a survey of school leaders conducted earlier this year. Almost 70% of those taking part reported they had unfilled vacancies due to recruitment difficulties. Published this week, it found: Almost 80% of second-level schools surveyed had no applications for an advertised post or posts during the 2024/25 school year; 90% of schools said there were no substitute teachers available to cover for absent teachers; 73% said they had to employ non-qualified/ casual teachers to manage teacher supply issues. A further 42% schools said they removed a subject, or subject, from the curriculum. The changes necessary to fundamentally address the problem and ensure teaching is a sustainable career have not been acted upon, according to ASTI general secretary Kieran Christie. 'It seems the Department of Education and Youth is waiting for demographic shifts to lessen the problem. This is not an acceptable way to treat the children and young people who are returning to school this month.' 'Fundamental changes to entice teachers to return from other countries need to be introduced,' he added. 'Shortening the excessively long teachers' pay scale and doubling the number of middle management posts in schools would be an enormous help in properly addressing the teacher supply crisis.' The training period for new teachers needs to be reduced from two-years to one and the exorbitant cost of undertaking this training must be tackled. Earlier this week, the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) also accused the Department of Education of being 'intent on trying to 'ride out'' issues around teacher recruitment. The union has called for the duration of the current professional master of education, required to become a second-level teacher, to be halved, from two to one years.
Irish Examiner
04-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Leaving Cert home economics paper praised for clarity, relevance, and focus on sustainability
Leaving Cert home economics students would have been "delighted" with the straightforward 2025 exam, which allowed them to showcase their in-depth understanding of the course. That was the view of teachers who reviewed the exam papers as the first day of the 2025 Leaving Cert continued on Wednesday afternoon. Exams also took place for Junior Cycle students in religious education. Both the higher and ordinary level home economics papers were well received by students, according to Maura McCaul, a teacher at Loreto College and subject spokesperson for the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI). 'They were two very straightforward papers, covering a range of topics that allowed for the student to show off their knowledge and research related to modern-day living.' The higher-level paper placed a strong emphasis on sustainability, with questions focusing on environmental awareness, interior design, and waste and water management. Other social issues also featured, she added. 'They were asked to discuss social housing provision and the requirements of housing for families with disabilities. Very topical in relation to today's society, so students would have been very pleased with that.' She noted that the exam also placed a strong focus on money management. 'There was budgeting on both the higher and ordinary level paper and everything from mortgage approval to merchandising technics and consumer research.' Ella Cleary and Andrea Whittaker look over the home economics exam paper after the examination at Regina Mundi College, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins A "very nice" question explored the impact of food choices and eating habits in Ireland today. 'This was another question where a student would have research for, from across a range of topics on the course, ' she explained. Ordinary level The ordinary level paper was also very well received, Ms McCaul said. 'Very straightforward and there was a very good choice of short questions.' Similarly to the higher level paper, there was a sociological element to the questions with one question about poverty, and another about lifelong learning. 'As well as the topical issue of childcare in Ireland.' Studyclix subject spokesperson Megan Friel, a home economics teacher at Mercy College, Sligo, said the higher-level paper was "very practical, topical, student-friendly, and contained no curveballs." 'There were plenty of nice questions in this exam. Section B Q1 was compulsory and focused on the impact of food choices and eating habits of adults in Ireland. This was very relevant to students and gave them the opportunity to display their in-depth knowledge of the course.' She also described the ordinary level paper as "student-friendly and accessible." Section B, Question 1 included a clear and simple chart on soup, while students will be relieved that Question 2 followed the same format as in previous years. Overall this was a very fair paper which will likely have brought a smile to the faces of students and teachers alike.'
Irish Examiner
04-06-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Could you pass English paper 1? First Leaving Cert exams of 2025 'very balanced'
Podcasting, underdogs, a 'love letter to Ireland', a rally cry to young people from the author of The Handmaid's Tale and an extract from the Booker Prize winner all featured on the higher level 2025 English paper 1. Overall, the first papers to open the 2025 Leaving Cert exams were 'very balanced' and themed around perspectives. Podcasting and poetry made appearances on the Junior Cycle papers, where a question on short stories may have caused some students to stumble. There were lots of opportunities for students when it came to the higher level English paper 1 Leaving Cert questions, according to Kate Barry. The English teacher with Loreto Secondary School, College Road in Fermoy and subject spokesperson for the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) said she believed this year's papers were 'very fair on the whole.' 'I really liked the three texts they gave,' she added. This included an article by science writer David Robson, a speech made by Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid's Tale, and an extract from Samantha Harvey's 2024 novel Orbital which won last year's Booker Prize. In her speech, Margaret Atwood gives advice to young people, referring to herself, 'a wise old counsellor'. 'It's good to see someone of her calibre appearing,' Ms Barry said. "There was a good level of challenge in the Section A questions.' 'The three questions were very similar, they were very consistent, and nice and general. They asked students to write about elements of language that are elegant, thought-provoking, or inspiring. Sometimes those questions can be very 'tick the box', whereas I thought this was nice and broad, you can bring in a lot there. However, she was more critical of the paper's Question Bs, which carry 50 marks. In particular, a question that asked students to imagine they are a contributor to a podcast while reflecting on how their perspective on a significant issue changed. 'I don't see why that question needs to be for a podcast,' Ms Barry said. 'It's a lovely invitation to write, it's a very nice topic and encourages them to think and reflect, but I don't see why it needs to be for a podcast.' 'I think they are trying to be current, and they think 'well a lot of people listen to podcasts'.' The other two Question Bs were more creative, asking students to imagine they are either a sports captain or a hotel manager. 'Not everybody is up for that so it was good to have a question where they could write as themselves.' Meanwhile, the higher-level essay topics, which carry 100 marks, were 'really nice'. 'There were some really nice options there, I thought,' Ms Barry said. In particular, she liked the option that asked students to write a speech for or against the motion that: Truth has become a valueless currency in today's world. 'I really like the questions where students can take it personally, and can write about their own lives, but there was plenty of scope there if they do want to engage in current events.' Another of the questions she liked was the option to write a love letter to Ireland. 'Some of these essay questions can be a bit doom and gloom, but this question asked students to view contemporary Ireland from an optimistic lens. It gives them an opportunity to be positive, which actually can be a challenge.' The only essay question she has concerns about was one asking students to reflect on some of the factors that would influence their voting intentions in future elections. 'You'd really expect and hope that all the people correcting that would put their own views to the side. I don't think it would be a popular one anyway." Ordinary level English paper 1 The ordinary level English paper 1 had some 'accessible' texts that included extracts from the writing of Paul Howard and Rosaleen McDonagh as well a visual image question themed around 'Love in Many Guises' which included song lyrics from The Beatles, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift as well as Mark Twain and Lao Tzu among others. In particular, Ms Barry liked the essay question on this paper that asked students to reflect on the importance of people standing up for their views and beliefs. "Sometimes people have different reasons for taking ordinary level English,' she said. 'Sometimes they haven't been in Ireland very long and wouldn't have enough English to do the higher-level paper but they would be well able to come up with their own thoughts and opinions. "It's not aimed too young, it takes into account that they are emerging adults, grappling with adult themes too.' Junior Cycle Overall, the Junior Cycle papers were 'lovely and clear', Ms Barry said. Similarly, the idea of perspectives came up on the Junior Cycle exam. Podcasting made another appearance on the 2025 Junior Cycle exam, with a question based around 'The Black & Irish Podcast'. However, a question asking students to write about a short story they have covered may have caused some to stumble. 'That technically is on the course, it is a specification but that specification is huge,' Ms Barry explained. 'The amount of material they must cover on it, and that is the first year they have specifically been asked to cover a short story they have studied. It's very, very difficult to teach the whole specification,' she added. 'I would expect they would interpret short stories there liberally when they go to correct it. It's something they might not have done. They would have read them as part of the Junior Cycle, but they mightn't have been expecting them as an exam question.' 'It's come up in the past to write their own short story, rather than analyse one as a text. Some of our students here, they were able to take something they had read and answer that way but I do think out of all the questions, that was so new and that would have been the one that caused some to stumble.' 'That will all be reflected when they come to the marking scheme, I would reassure people about that.' The ordinary level Junior Cycle paper was very 'nice and straightforward', she added. 'I'm not sure about this way they have of testing vocabulary where they ask what this word means, and they mightn't know the word, they just get given a random five words, but overall, I did think it was very candidate friendly.' Read More Record number of students to sit State exams this year
Irish Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on Leaving Cert reforms: AI must be taken seriously
The Government and teachers' unions may be on a collision course over the introduction of major reforms to the Leaving Certificate later this year. The changes, due to be introduced for all students entering the senior cycle this September, will see nine new or revised subjects incorporating research projects worth 40 per cent of overall marks, a radical shift from the traditional reliance on written end-of-year exams. Secondary teachers' unions will conduct ballots in the coming weeks on whether to accept the package proposed by the Government to ease the introduction of the reforms. These include pay increases, permanent contracts for new teachers and the creation of additional middle-management positions. The Teachers' Union of Ireland has recommended acceptance, but the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland has made no recommendation. Further votes on industrial action are expected should the proposals be rejected. READ MORE These reforms have long been sought by educationalists who believe the current Leaving Cert is too rigid, places excessive pressure on students and encourages rote learning rather than critical thinking. Some supporters of the changes will undoubtedly be frustrated that the concerns expressed by the unions might lead to delays. There is merit, however, to some of the criticisms of the timing and manner in which the reforms are being introduced. Particular concern centres on use by students of artificial intelligence (AI). Generative AI tools already produce work that achieves high grades at postgraduate level. AI detection tools are unreliable and a thriving market has sprung up for software that makes detection impossible. It would be a tragic irony if reforms that are supposed to encourage individual development and independent thinking were to be undermined by a technology that bypasses exactly those human qualities. Minister for Education Helen McEntee should take teachers' concern seriously and engage further with them on the issue.
Irish Examiner
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Unions to vote on Leaving Cert reform proposals after talks end
Talks aimed at easing teachers' concerns about proposed incoming changes to the Leaving Cert between the post-primary teacher unions and the education minister have concluded. Both the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) are to now put Helen McEntee's latest proposals on senior cycle reform to a vote of their members. Both unions had strongly opposed the Leaving Cert reforms, set to begin in September, with teachers raising concerns around the readiness of schools to roll out the changes, along with the introduction of new project work components. This project work, called additional assessment components (AACs), is to be worth at least 40% of a student's overall grade in a subject. Many teachers have also raised concerns around the authentication of work completed as part of these components given the rapid advancements in AI technology. Last month, teaching delegates passed emergency motions at their annual congress calling for their unions to take industrial action if this round of talks failed to 'deliver an acceptable outcome". The TUI is recommending that its members accept the negotiated proposals published on Thursday night in an upcoming ballot. The ASTI has yet to decide which way it will advise its members to vote. The union's leadership and executive committees are due to meet in the coming days to consider the proposals. On Thursday night, education minister Helen McEntee said: 'It is now a matter for the ASTI and TUI to consider this package as part of their own processes.' Proceeding with the introduction of new and revised subjects under senior cycle redevelopment in September is in the best interest of students 'It will help to reduce the pressure faced by students, while recognising a broader range of skills and ensuring that students have the skills necessary to thrive and succeed in a rapidly changing world.' Working groups The proposals include the establishment of various working groups to support the implementation of the senior cycle reform programme, including in areas related to AI, and the implementation of this agreement and workload in schools. It also includes a 'commitment' to early rapid reviews of revised subjects, including their assessment arrangements and emerging trends in student uptake levels, as well as the development of a right to disconnect policy applicable to schools. According to the TUI, the proposals also include the payment of the 3% pay increase due under the local bargaining provision of the current public service agreement for co-operation with senior cycle. The proposals on the table also include a 'rebalancing' of the "Croke Park hours" to allow for teacher-led activities related to senior xycle, as well as a shorter qualifying period of one year for teachers to attain permanency. The accelerated pace of redevelopment has led to significant concerns from TUI members, TUI president David Waters said on Thursday. The TUI executive committee has assessed the document and is recommending that members accept it, he added. 'The union believes that these proposals are the best that that could be achieved through negotiation, and that they have the potential to allay concerns expressed by teachers in terms of both workload and the resources required by schools and teachers to implement senior cycle redevelopment," he said. 'In a separate ballot, the union will seek that — in the event of the negotiated document not being accepted — members vote to engage in a campaign of industrial action, up to and including strike action.' Ballot material will be issued to TUI members next week.
