A chara, – Ronan White (May 14th) is correct to point out "the exploitative employment practices that are plaguing third-level institutions" and the damage that this is causing education. Unfortunately a similar state of affairs also exists at second level, where obtaining a permanent and pensionable job is becoming a rarity rather than the norm and the lack of full-time jobs for recently qualified teachers is damaging education and creating instability in the classroom. Where once teachers applied for full-time, permanent positions, now they apply for fragments of jobs with no guarantee of employment from year to year. The Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland estimates that close on 35 per cent of their members are on some form of temporary or part-time contract and that over half of teachers under 30 years of age are in non-permanent positions. Our schools are becoming populated with "fractional teachers" who could be employed on a quarter or half hours. The implications for teaching and learning are obvious. Schools will have to deal with a high turnover of teachers and the difficulties with continuity that this will inevitably cause. Highly qualified teachers will take their abilities elsewhere and new graduates will be less likely to consider teaching as a career.
For too long we have allowed the “hours culture” to have a seriously detrimental effect on our newly qualified teachers and a consequential negative impact on students’ attainment. This practice must end.– Is mise,
KEVIN P McCARTHY,
Killarney,
Co Kerry.