Physics and chemistry graduates should be given incentives to entice them into teaching and away from more lucrative jobs in the private sector, the Government's education advisory group has recommended.
While levels of payments are not included in the final version of a new report from the group - the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) - an earlier version suggested graduates could be paid £5,000 each for going into teaching.
This is the current practice in Britain and is described in the education world as paying "hello money". The aim is to match the salaries available to science graduates from the chemical, pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.
It is understood a reference to the British payments was left out of the final version of the NCCA's Science and Technology Education report following discussions with teachers' unions, which do not want the common pay scale for teachers altered for one particular group of teachers.
The draft version said: "Further concessions are needed to attract more physical science graduates to teaching. Perhaps, as in the UK, consideration should be given to encouraging physical scientists to change their career path and train as teachers."
It added: "Their experiences in industry and research would be invaluable and would give a different perspective to students. It could help rejuvenate the two subject areas [physics and chemistry]."
The final version of the report - published yesterday in Cork - retained a reference to paying graduates who have gone into industry but who might be prepared to change career path. It stated: "If necessary, consideration should be given to providing incentives for them [graduates] that would make teaching an attractive option."
Nobody was available from the NCCA yesterday to comment on the differences between the two versions of the report. The deputy general secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI), Mr John White, said teachers were against the idea of paying science graduates £5,000 to go into teaching.
"It is important all teachers are paid a professional salary, or else certain subjects will not continue to be healthy," he said.
There are major shortages of science teachers in schools. The number of students with a science background taking the Higher Diploma in Education (H-Dip) has been dwindling. For example, in 1998/99 there was not a single chemistry graduate taking the H-Dip at UCD, and only two physicists.
The report said the idea of a computer science subject at Leaving Certificate would be studied and a report issued by the end of the year. "The NCCA will proceed to take the necessary actions arising out of the study," it said.
Another study would be done on the feasibility of introducing a new general science subject at Leaving Certificate. The NCCA said it would be pushing ahead with plans to have more practical work included in the new biology, chemistry and physics syllabuses.
The report called on school managements to guarantee that science and technology subjects were allocated at least one double class period per week. "Time for the preparation of materials and equipment in respect of practical classes should be taken into account," it stated. The report said that in order to allow teachers to be "hands on" maximum class sizes should be 24. A period of consultation will now take place on the proposals in the report.