New research from Ulster University indicates that recent changes to employment laws for teachers in Northern Ireland have not significantly altered the composition of the educational workforce. The findings, published in the university’s Transforming Education series, focus on the implications of the Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act, which took effect in May 2024.
The study, led by Dr. Matthew Milliken, highlights that despite the new legislation aimed at promoting inclusivity, religious barriers persist within the teaching profession. The Act repealed previous regulations that permitted schools to employ teachers based on their religious affiliation, a practice that was exempt from fair employment laws applicable in other sectors. This change was intended to foster a more diverse educational environment across grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland.
According to Paul Givan, the Northern Ireland Education Minister, the Act has been implemented throughout the region. However, he acknowledged that the Department of Education has yet to evaluate its impact. Dr. Milliken’s report reveals that the anticipated progress in diversifying the workforce has not materialized.
Limited Progress in Workforce Diversity
The data indicates a stark disparity between the representation of Catholic and Protestant teachers in different school types. The report notes that Maintained schools maintain a high percentage of Catholic teachers, while Controlled schools reflect minimal representation from Catholic backgrounds.
Dr. Milliken stated, “The paper confirms that, since the Act took effect, there has been little progress in monitoring the community background of applicants for teaching posts or in reporting on workforce diversity to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI).”
Moreover, the research highlights the poor completion rates of the Equality Monitoring forms, with only approximately 11% participation among teachers in Controlled schools and less than 3% in Maintained schools. This low engagement hinders the ability to accurately assess the teaching workforce’s composition.
The report emphasizes that if Northern Ireland is to cultivate a future generation educated in a diverse and pluralistic environment, students must be exposed to a range of worldviews. “Cultural norms still steer teachers toward working within their own sector,” it states, suggesting that increasing long-term mobility among teachers could enhance diversity and benefit both students and staff.
Calls for Comprehensive Review
The findings raise critical questions about the effectiveness of the current framework in fostering an inclusive educational atmosphere. The report concluded with a call for action: “What more needs to be done to transform our education system into one where staff and pupils of all traditions feel that their identity is acknowledged, accommodated, and respected in all school types?”
The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) mandates that applicants for positions in Catholic maintained primary schools possess a recognized Certificate in Religious Education. As the report indicates, none of the responding teachers in these schools identified as being from a Protestant background.
In response to the findings, Paul Caskey OBE, chief executive of the Integrated Education Fund, urged the Department of Education to take decisive measures to assess the success of the legislation in diversifying the teaching workforce. “The IEF calls on 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.
The ongoing challenges in achieving diversity among teachers underscore the need for effective monitoring and proactive strategies to ensure an inclusive educational system that reflects the society it serves.
