Sir, – The article on solutions to the teacher shortage (”Is there any solution to the teacher shortage crisis?’, Education, January 16th) does not mention that it is now more expensive and takes longer to qualify as a second level teacher.
The professional master’s degree in education (PME) takes two years compared to the higher diploma (HDip) in education, which was a one-year course. The PME is also very expensive. The fees in UCD for this two-year course are €14,860. The extra time and expense involved in the PME must represent a significant barrier for many aspiring second-level teachers. – Yours, etc,
HELEN MOLONY,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.
Sir, – Though it’s almost 20 years since I worked in Australia, a solution they used to fill unpopular jobs then remains in place. A process called “salary packaging” was a perk of some posts, and varied widely in its details. In essence, certain categories of individuals expenditure could be made from pre-tax earnings, and a degree of tax liability thereby avoided. My job as an intensive-care doctor was hard to fill, and so my rent was payable from my before-tax salary, as were all educational fees. This made it possible to live near the hospital in a pretty affluent part of the city, and hence to walk to work.
This had many advantages. It discouraged the relatively common practice of unofficial or informal tenancies, which are hard to regulate. As receipts had to be produced, it meant all such claims were above board, with the landlord likely to pay their taxes. It reduced traffic and pollution, and meant that vital positions could be staffed without expecting the worker to make exceptional sacrifices or long commutes.
It ultimately amounted to a significant boost to the benefits of public sector work but without increasing salaries, which can of course act to trigger further increases.
There are jobs we in Ireland need filled, ideally by people living locally. Teachers, various medics, paramedics and emergency services and those who maintain energy supplies are too important to be left to dysfunctional market forces. Difficulties recruiting teachers in Templeogue (Education, January 16th) might be addressed in a similar way.
The benefits can be capped or limited by locality.
If we want our mathematics graduates to consider teaching the subject rather than working in finance, this might be a way to make it a more rational decision. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN O’BRIEN,
Kinsale,
Co Cork.