Addressing the conference, ASTI president John Hurley called on the Government to reverse its decision to cut teacher numbers in schools.

According to ASTI research conducted in March 2009, second-level schools will lose an average of 2.6 teachers this September.

“Heads of Education Departments in universities are saying that the quality of our teacher graduates is higher than ever. I am continuously hearing about the hard work and commitment of newly qualified teachers,” Mr Hurley said.

“But the vast majority of these teachers cannot secure permanent teaching posts for many years, and this is set to worsen when the education cutbacks kick in this September,” he added.

Hurley warned of a brain-drain of teachers due to uncertainty of employment in Ireland and aggressive teacher-recruitment campaigns which are running in other countries.

“Our neighbours in the UK are only too happy to recruit our highly qualified, capable and motivated young teachers who are unable to find secure teaching posts here.

”Our young teachers are a national asset and they should be at the heart of our education service. Instead they are being squeezed out by savage Budget cuts which will reduce the capacity of our schools.”

“The ASTI has 3,000 members who are temporary and part-time teachers,” Mr Hurley continued.

“These teachers play a vital role in their schools ensuring the delivery of a broad curriculum and making an important contribution to pastoral care and extra curricular activity programmes.”