The Department of Education will launch a pilot program from September in which secondary schools will share teachers in ‘high demand’ subjects, reports RTE.
Education Minister Norma Foley said “the scheme will be introduced in a number of locations for the 2023/24 school year”, reports RTE.
A department spokeswoman said the pilot builds on a plan developed in 2019, which sees two schools commit to a teacher-sharing deal.
“The Department of Education intends on introducing a pilot scheme with a number of schools to demonstrate the potential for the wider application of the 2019 circular,” the spokesperson said, reports RTE.s
Responding to a parliamentary question posed by Sinn Fein TD Oine O’Brien, Foley said the aim of the scheme was to “recruit teachers in high demand subjects and give teachers a full-time teaching contract”, reports RTE.
In addition, the minister indicated other measures which, according to her, are part of a “comprehensive programme to support the supply of teachers”.
They include a “nnew programme for post-primary teachers to up-skill in Irish” from September,reports RTE.
The minister said the department had already increased the number of places in teacher skills refresher programs in mathematics, Spanish and physics.
Ms Foley said newly qualified teachers who qualified outside Ireland can now complete entry to Ireland under a new measure implemented by the Education Council, while retired teachers will see their entitlement to 50 days affected pension in 2023 Can teach without
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