Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 February 2013
66. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts he is making to increase the number of male teachers in schools here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6393/13]
View answerI am aware that there are far more women than men entering the teaching profession, particularly at primary level. This is an international phenomenon. I believe that it is important to attract men into teaching for a number of reasons, not least of which is the positive role models that teachers provide in children's lives and the desirability of having both male and female role models in our schools.
I also believe that teaching is an attractive profession for both men and women. Teaching is fulfilling work which makes a huge social contribution. Following the Report of the Primary Education Committee, 'Males into Primary Teaching' in 2005, a coordinated promotion campaign to encourage boys as well as girls to enter primary teaching was undertaken. This campaign promoted the rewards of being a teacher such as the value to society, work/life balance, career satisfaction, diversity of skills, professional development, conditions of employment and job security. One of the key functions of the Teaching Council is to promote teaching as a profession. It uses a variety of methods including promoting the Codes of Professional Conduct for Teachers, career exhibitions and the development of a website as an online resource for guidance counsellors, careers officers and those who may be considering teaching as a profession. The Teaching Council also produced a DVD, entitled Croí na Múinteoireachta which celebrates the quality of teaching in Ireland and affirms the valuable role that teachers play in enabling learners to reach their potential and in preparing young people for life. The Council has regard to the desirability of attracting males into the profession and has made public statements aimed at encouraging same in the past.
In recent years, there is an underlying trend of increase in the proportion of males entering primary initial teacher education programmes. According to statistics provided by the colleges of education, male entrants to the primary B.Ed in 2012 make up 24% of the cohort, compared to just 17% in 2007 and 11% in 2005. Data taken from my Department's payroll shows increases from 2003 to 2012 in recruitment of male teachers at primary (from c.15% to c.23%) and post primary levels (from c. 25% to 37%).
