230 New Teaching Posts Announced

Education Minister John O'Dowd has announced a scheme to recruit 230 new teachers in NI.

The £12m scheme will provide two-year fixed term contracts to help schools deliver tuition to children struggling with literacy and numeracy, and Mr O'Dowd said the project would help achieve the required levels in the respective subjects by targeting support where it is needed the most.

A total of 150 jobs will support pupils in Years 11 and 12, with the remaining 80 posts targeting Key Stage 2 pupils.

Minister O'Dowd said: "As well as targeting those young people who are at risk of underachieving and helping them achieve to their full potential, this scheme will also be a welcome boost for 230 of our recently qualified teachers as it gives them the opportunity to secure valuable teaching experience over the next two years.

"The project aims to increase the number of pupils in primary schools achieving at the expected level or above at the end of Key Stage 2 in both English and mathematics.

"It also aims to increase the number of young people in post-primary schools, in particular those entitled to free school meals, achieving a grade C or above in English and mathematics by the time they leave school."

Teachers who can apply for the vacancies should be qualified from June 2010 and be registered with GTCNI, and must not already be in a permanent teaching post.

Eligible schools will be informed by letter in the coming days and invited to participate in the project.

(JP/CD)