A recent report from Ulster University reveals that the new employment laws for teachers in Northern Ireland have not significantly altered the demographic composition of the workforce. The findings highlight ongoing religious barriers despite the implementation of the Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act, which took effect in May 2024.
The research, part of Ulster University’s Transforming Education series, examines the impact of this legislation aimed at providing equal employment opportunities in schools. Education Minister Paul Givan previously stated that the Act had been fully implemented across all grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland. However, he acknowledged that the department has not conducted an assessment of the Act’s effectiveness.
Dr. Matthew Milliken, the lead author of the study, noted that the report indicates Maintained schools continue to have a predominately Catholic workforce, while Controlled schools show minimal Catholic representation. “Since the Act took effect, there has been little progress by employing authorities in monitoring the community background of applicants for teaching positions,” Milliken explained.
The report also emphasized that the completion rate for the Equality Monitoring form remains alarmingly low, with only about 11% of teachers in Controlled schools responding. In Maintained primary and post-primary schools, the response rate is even lower, at less than 3%. Milliken stated that this lack of data hampers a comprehensive understanding of the teaching workforce’s composition.
The data available indicates that representation of teachers from a Catholic background is still quite limited in Controlled schools. Conversely, the proportion of teachers from a Protestant background in Catholic Maintained schools remains minimal. The report concluded that the Department of Education, the Education Authority, and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) have struggled to gather and release accurate data regarding the teaching staff.
Furthermore, the report highlights that the Catholic Religious Education certification requirement poses a barrier for non-Catholic teachers seeking employment in Catholic Maintained schools. “Cultural norms still steer teachers toward working within their own sector,” the report stated. It suggests that enhancing mobility among teachers might promote diversity and benefit both pupils and staff.
The report raises critical questions about the future of Northern Ireland’s education system. “If change does indeed come gradually, then suddenly, opening the possibility of cross-sectoral movement may empower teachers to explore a wider range of employment opportunities,” Milliken suggested. This could enable schools to choose from a broader pool of applicants, allowing the best candidates to be selected regardless of their community background.
Dr. Milliken’s findings underscore the need for a more inclusive educational environment that reflects the diverse society of Northern Ireland. He remarked, “If NI society is to benefit from future generations educated in a pluralistic environment, pupils must be exposed to diverse perspectives beyond the inward-looking parameters.”
In response to these findings, Paul Caskey OBE, chief executive of the Integrated Education Fund, has called on the Department of Education to evaluate the effectiveness of the legislation. “The IEF urges the Department of Education and the teacher-employing authorities to undertake a comprehensive review regarding the implementation of the NI Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act (NI) 2022,” he stated. He further emphasized the importance of effective monitoring of the teaching workforce in line with the requirements of the law.
As Northern Ireland continues to grapple with its complex educational landscape, the need for meaningful change remains clear. The findings from Ulster University serve as a critical reminder that legislation alone is insufficient to address deeply rooted issues within the educational system.
