Teachers exit the classroom in droves

Primary schools across the county have seen a huge exodus of teachers – and school principals in particular – out of the profession over the past three years.

And the volume of principals opting for retirement has also led to fears that sport at under age level will also suffer in the years to come.

Figures reveal that the vast majority of those who have retired are male teachers and the Irish National Teachers Organisation say that the numbers pursuing a career in primary teaching are mostly female.

Last year a total of 61 primary school teachers retired in County Galway and 23 of these were principals – a huge increase on the previous year.

They are opting out to avoid dealing with the prospect of much bigger class sizes in a more difficult and strained working environment.In the past three years a total of 122 teachers have retired from primary schools in Galway – last year’s figure reveals a 40% increase in the numbers retiring compared to 2008.

But what is even more worrying is the fact that in 2009, the number of principals that retired in the county increased by a staggering 50% on the previous year.

In fact Galway has the highest number of teachers retiring after Dublin and Cork with many fearing that their pensions would have been taxed in the end of year budget.

Galway GAA Chairman, Gerry Larkin said that it was a situation that would be monitored closely in the years to come.

He said that he would like to see a better gender balance in schools and would be encouraging accomplished young sports people to consider careers in teaching.

“While we provide coaching to primary schools, it is the teachers on the ground who are the backbone to the promotion of sport and that has to be maintained as a matter of huge importance”, Gerry Larkin added.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.