asked the Minister for Education if he has reconsidered the position of married women in relation to the present shortage of teachers; and, if so, if he will state what decision has been arrived at.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teachers' Marriage Ban.
asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the serious shortage of trained teachers, he will discontinue the marriage ban.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together.
As I have already stated in reply to an earlier question on this subject the continuance in operation of the rule requiring women national teachers to retire on marriage is a matter of general policy involving considerations of a social and economic as well as of an educational nature. It would not be appropriate to rescind or modify this rule for the purpose of dealing with a shortage of teachers and I do not, therefore, propose to alter the ruleon that ground. I am considering what measures are necessary to increase the supply of qualified teachers.
Is the Minister aware that the shortage of teachers has now reached serious proportions, especially in rural two-teacher schools, where I know that principal teachers over the past two years have been marking time owing to the inability of the managers to get qualified teachers as assistants? It is a serious problem and one which cannot be remedied by any plan other than the reinstatement of those teachers who were retired on marriage.