A shortage of teachers is undermining the education of our children and young people. That's according to the new President of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland.
Geraldine O'Brien takes up her new role today, at a time when 81 per cent of schools say they've had to hire an unqualified teacher because of staff shortages. She says a number of actions could help teaching to become an attractive job once again.
"Pay teachers more firstly; secondly there could be a reduction in the pupil teacher ratio; and thirdly meaningful collaboration with teachers in relation to change because teachers know best what will work and what will not work in the classroom," she added.