Schools face teacher shortage

THE Archbishop of Glasgow has appealed to Catholic teachers to seek employment in Catholic schools to address a crisis in faith education.

Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, who is president of the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES), asked for more young people to consider a career in teaching in general, but appealed to Catholics currently working in non-denominational schools to consider moving to Catholic schools.

In a statement published at the end of Catholic Education Week he identified rural schools and certain subjects, including mathematics and science, as being in particular need. The archbishop described the current situation as a “critical issue” and spoke of “significant consequences” if the shortfall is not met.

The director of SCES, Michael McGrath, said that councils were struggling to find teachers for Catholic schools who have religious education qualifications. “How can you deliver the Catholic education that you are expected to, that parents want you to, if you don’t have people who understand that and are committed to it and are able to deliver it?”

The general shortage of teachers in Scotland is exacerbated for Catholic schools, which generally have stricter recruitment criteria, such as requiring candidates to be vetted by a priest.

In light of the shortage of teachers, the St Andrew’s Foundation for Catholic teacher education at the University of Glasgow has begun a recruitment drive in schools, hoping to increase the numbers of those committing to teacher training.