As the cost of living continues to soar across the country, UK teachers are feeling the pinch. A recent study has highlighted the impact of soaring rents and living costs on the ability of teachers to make ends meet. Many are struggling to pay bills, with some even facing homelessness or being forced to rely on food banks. In this article, we explore the reasons behind this worrying trend and what can be done to support teachers who are feeling the squeeze.
The education sector in Ireland is facing significant challenges as many teachers are leaving the profession due to job insecurity, rising costs of living, and an acute shortage of affordable housing. Conall Ó Dufaigh, a post-primary teacher and member of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI), asserts that many teachers opt for teaching due to job security, but this is no longer guaranteed. Many teachers are emigrating in search of employment in other countries.
The rising cost of living and the housing crisis is hitting middle-income workers, including teachers, particularly hard. Ó Dufaigh explains that the competitive housing market means that savings towards buying a home can go on indefinitely as rent continues to increase, posing a threat of eviction. Furthermore, obtaining full-time hours in the teaching profession is increasingly difficult, especially for technology and science teachers and anyone teaching an elective subject.
The annual gatherings of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), the ASTI and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) conferences will focus on the housing crisis, rising costs of living, teacher shortages and retention, and the lack of promotional opportunities for teachers who are not in middle management positions. The TUI conference has the theme of “recruit, retain, and reclaim” and aims to address the pay inequality issue that led to teachers leaving the profession.
According to INTO general secretary John Boyle, school principals face difficulties in filling gaps left by teachers who have left due to the housing crisis. At the primary level, a supply panel scheme was set up to counter this problem. However, teachers are still struggling to afford rent in rent pressure areas, resulting in schools being hard hit. Further, administrative overload leads to principals falling behind on paperwork that is required of them.
TUI representative Aisling states that it is challenging to secure a contract and find accommodation that is affordable. She spends a full day a week commuting as she is unable to afford to live in the area where she works, even if there were any vacancies available. INTO member Siobhán, who is in her 20s, has decided to emigrate to Australia since she sees little hope for change in Ireland to improve her current situation.
Allowances for taking on extra jobs and additional rewards for teachers with master’s and PhD qualifications have been scaled back during the austerity years, leaving many without promotional opportunities. Teachers voice their concern about “initiative overload” while introducing new initiatives without putting resources in place to support them. The Senior cycle reform is another area of concern, and teachers are pushing for external assessments and rigorous, independent research to ensure that changes advance student learning.
Education investment, including smaller class sizes, adequate investment for training special education teachers, and provisions to match the number of special-needs teachers to students, is also a critical issue that policymakers must address. The lack of investment in education has left Irish schools lagging behind the average OECD nation. Farrell, TUI President, reports that even day-to-day worries such as energy bills are becoming a concern, and a higher capitation grant for schools is necessary to meet these expenses.
In conclusion, the heavy burden of housing insecurity, rising costs, teacher shortages, and a lack of opportunities for career advancement in Ireland’s teaching profession is costing the country’s education sector valuable talent. Policymakers must take swift action to address these concerns to ensure that the country’s education sector can provide the much-needed talent to drive Ireland’s economy forward.
