I spoke with a close friend last night who informed me that her school is using HDip students to fill vacant substitute positions in the school. After much criticism regarding schools decisions to hire retired teachers to such positions one can only wonder what the new minister for education would make of such actions.

I think it’s a disgrace that secondary schools continue the buddy practice system with an abundance of qualified teachers looking for any type of work. What makes matters worse is these positions are filled with people who are not even qualified to teach! Yes it may be easier but so is cheating in exams or robbing money from a colleagues bag which is what the education system is doing to the NQT’s in Ireland. Cheating us out of positions and robbing us of a career in teaching.