The system of allowing primary schools to operate without enough qualified teachers must be ended, says INTO general secretary Senator Joe O'Toole. The Department of Education is ignoring "the plight of many of our schools" that are facing severe teacher shortages, he says. "This refusal to act represents a serious undermining by the Department of the importance of qualified, competent teachers to the education system."

A new approach to the skills shortages is needed, he says, and this could in part be addressed by extending recognition to other teaching professionals and welcoming retired teachers back into the system.

"Montessori graduates who are currently not recognised by the Department of Education should be given immediate recognition as being fully qualified to teach pupils up to six years off age in national schools." They should also, he says, be given in-service training to gain full recognition as primary teachers. O'Toole also says retired teachers should be given the choice of returning to work.

"Telling people that they have to retire at 65 is both outmoded and unnecessary," he says. "Many retired teachers would willingly work a number of hours per week if they could do so without threatening their pension entitlements.

"There are simply not enough people joining the labour force" to meet the skills shortages in the primary sector, he says. "Schools are crying out for qualified and experienced primary teachers."