Teacher Shortage Leads to Reduced Course Access in Ireland
Teacher shortages in Ireland have begun to significantly affect the education process in secondary schools. According to a new study published by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI), nearly half of secondary schools were forced to restrict students’ access to at least one subject last year due to a lack of teachers.
A survey of school principals nationwide found that about 20 percent of schools had to remove at least one subject entirely from their curricula. Among the school leaders who participated in the survey, 75 percent reported that they had advertised at least one teaching position during the previous six months but received no applications. Meanwhile, 89 percent of principals said they had to rely on second-year professional master’s students in education to help fill teaching gaps. Additionally, 59 percent reported that teaching positions remain unfilled.
School administrators also reported that newly hired teachers sometimes withdrew from their positions after school timetables had already been finalized in order to take jobs at other schools. According to the survey, 55 percent of principals experienced this situation, which caused significant disruptions and required them to reorganize their teaching schedules.
TUI President Anthony Quinn stated that the government needs to take more rapid action to address the teacher shortage, warning that the current situation is limiting students’ subject choices in schools.
However, the Department of Education rejected claims that the sector is broadly understaffed. Officials stated that according to 2025 data, only 0.7 percent of positions in post-primary education remain vacant, suggesting that most schools are adequately staffed to meet students’ needs.