Calls for measures to address teacher shortages in the short term

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There are calls for the government to introduce a number of short term measures to address the shortage of teachers in schools.

With the new academic year underway, there are claims there aren't enough substitutes to meet demand.

Longer term positions are also proving difficult to fill.

Director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, Paul Crone, says there are practical steps that can be taken to deal with immediate need:

"There's allowing teachers who are on job-share to take more hours and teachers who are on career break to teach some hours, ways to entice back in recently retired teachers. And ways to allow the professional masters in education students maybe take some contracted hours and relieve the burdgen.

They were done as a temporary measure last year to alleviate the pressure around covid."