Teacher shortage crisis at local school

THE inability of a local school to fill vacancies in teaching posts for this school year has now reached ‘crisis levels.’

This is according to a group of parents connected to Coolmine Community School who have joined forces to try and find a solution to the school’s staff shortage.

The Coolmine Community School Action Group say the housing crisis in Dublin is a major reason why three of the school’s teachers have decided to relocate away from Dublin and take up teaching jobs in parts of the country where accommodation is more affordable.

Kate Relihan, a mother of a pupil who attends the school and one of the founders of the action group, explained to Northside People:

“Following on from a very successful on-line meeting to highlight the impact of the teacher crisis in Coolmine Community School on Nov 14, we now intend to broaden this campaign to the wider Dublin West constituency,” she said.

“Our Action Group is a parent led body and we have just set up a Facebook group, Coolmine Community School Parents Action Group, with the wonderful support of school management.

“The impact of the chronic teacher shortage is devastating for students and parents alike, especially in an area like Blanchardstown with a huge young population amid a spiralling economic crisis.

“It is imperative that we act on the success of the meeting and ensure the promises agreed upon at our meeting on November 14th are met.

“We have invited all local Ministers, some Councillors, General Secretaries of ASTI/TUI union, education stakeholders and parents to a follow-up on-line meeting on Monday, December 5, to discuss the progress of our grassroot demands we asked of Government.

Among these demands are a fast track approach for Teaching Council registration, which is vital.

“This would allow for those in industry and further education/Route 3 to teach as an interim measure.

“Garda Vetting has been fast tracked but not the Teaching Council.

“Pay, temporary contracts, the cost and length of teacher training and stressful workload are driving teachers abroad or out of education, this is according to a recent survey by TUI which revealed 91% of schools with unfilled vacancies.

“Added to this is the looming housing crisis which has teachers priced out of cities.

“Dublin West is severely hit which led us parents to set up Coolmine Community School Parents Action Group to pressurise local Govt Ministers into action to help alleviate the escalating crisis.”

Kate said it is vital that actions are taken now to avoid an escalation of the staff shortage problem in local schools.

“Other suggestions we have would be an early release of Third and Fourth year graduates with appropriate pay

“Retired/Job-share/Career break solutions are not an option, this cohort have made decisions and have plans in place that renders them unavailable.

“It is disingenuous to suggest that this is a solution.

“A training college for Metalwork/Woodwork/Graphics needs to be made available in Dublin.

“Currently there are only two colleges – Limerick and Letterfrack.

“The two-year PME means that 6 years training is required to teach at second level.

“This is prohibitive for some young people.

“A ‘Dublin Allowance’ for teachers would also help as salaries of teachers in Dublin are not on a par financially with those living in the country due to the cost of accommodation in the capital.”