Government fails to prioritise young teachers in filling posts

MAYO Fianna Fáil Councillor Lisa Chambers says younger and newly graduated teachers in the county are losing out on work because retired teachers are being appointed as examiners and superintendents for State exams. 

New figures released to Fianna Fáil reveal that over the past three years almost 5,000 retired teachers were taken on to cover these exam posts.

Councillor Chambers commented: “This government has done nothing to help younger and newly graduated teachers. Every year we see retired teachers being re-employed by the Department of Education for substitute and other posts. 

“Now it’s been revealed that these teachers, who are already receiving a pension from the State, are being taken on for these examiner and superintendent roles.

“These are jobs that could be prioritised for teachers who do not hold permanent posts.  There are dozens of teachers across the county who are working on maternity, substitute and one-year contracts who have no security of employment. They are highly qualified, highly skilled teachers who are unable to secure permanent posts, with many being forced to sign on to the dole over the summer months before they are able to take up another temporary post in the new school year.”

She continued: “It is completely unacceptable that retired teachers are being given preference over newly qualified or non-permanent teachers. It is inherently unfair that teachers who are already receiving payment from the State are being chosen over younger teachers who will have no income over the summer months. Not only would these jobs provide them with a salary, it will further enhance their experience and skill-sets.

“The Department of Education had promised to prioritise unemployed teachers; however the fact that more than 1,000 retired teachers were re-hired for exam supervisory posts last year shows that Minister Jan O’Sullivan is unwilling to take charge of the situation.

“Dozens of young teachers across Mayo are being denied these jobs because of another broken promise. This simply isn’t good enough and the minister must work to ensure that the assurances which were given to prioritise unemployed and non-permanent teachers are fully implemented and upheld.”