Sharp drop in local teacher vacancies

Latest figures released by the Department of Education reveal the number of teaching vacancies advertised in the local area slid sharply from 252 last year to 212 this year.

The figures show that the greatest number of vacancies were in primary schools, 117, followed by the secondary school sector at 95.

However, the local employment opportunities were better than in every other area apart from the South Eastern Education Board.

Last year’s higher than normal figure may have been linked to a special redundancy scheme launched by the department in 2012, which encouraged teachers to retire early with a financial package of up to 90 weeks salary.

The offer was three times as much as the redundancy package teachers are contractually entitled to, and led to a flood of teachers leaving their posts.