Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said proper reform of our teacher training system is needed.
Mr Lyttle was speaking after the relaunch of the Investing in the Teaching Workforce scheme by the Department of Education. It will see teachers aged over 55 retire early in 2018/19 and be replaced by those who have qualified since 2013. It was originally announced in 2016 but delayed.
“By allowing only those who have qualified since 2013 to replace retiring teachers, this scheme fails to help other graduates still yet to secure permanent employment,” said Mr Lyttle.
“The Department should instead be focusing on addressing the underlying problem, which is we are failing to match the supply of teachers to demand and training too many teachers as a result.
“This scheme is expensive and unnecessary if proper reform is carried out on the teacher training system we currently have. Instead of trying and failing to maintain the viability of a fragmented teacher training system, we need to put the emphasis on making the best system for all those who use it.”