The new president of teachers' union ASTI has pledged to tackle "under-resourcing" in the State's secondary schools during her tenure in office.
Patricia Wroe, a guidance counsellor from Loreto Foxrock in Dublin, claimed the current system was short-changing young people.
Ms Wroe said the system needed to provide the widest possible learning experience across both the humanities and the sciences to "enrich and empower" young people.
"We need to prepare all our young people for active citizenship and for rounded roles in society."
"The current under resourcing of our second level education service means that this is not happening for all our young people. They are being short-changed," she said.
Ms Wroe also said one of her key priorities for the coming year would be to highlight the increased social and economic benefits which the teaching profession brings to society.
Ms Wroe takes over the role of president from today after being elected at the union's annual conference in April.