Annual Report 2024 - Flipbook - Page 39
Visiting Spanish Teacher Scheme
Action 1.D.3
2 Teachers Placed
Overview:
The Visiting Spanish Teacher Scheme is an agreement between the Department of Education in Ireland and
the Ministry of Education and Culture in Spain. The 2024-2025 academic year was the fourth year that the
programme has been running in Ireland.
Main Aims:
•
Address the shortage of qualified Spanish teachers in Ireland
•
Support the curriculum in Irish schools by filling vacant Spanish teaching positions with highly qualified
Spanish educators
•
Give students in Irish post-primary schools the opportunity opportunity to communicate and interact
with native Spanish speakers
•
Support schools in developing relationships and exchanges with the visiting teachers’ schools in Spain
Activity:
PPLI collaborated with the Department of Education and the Consejería de Educación, which represents the
Spanish Ministry of Education abroad, in the selection process for teachers and schools. Schools interviewed
candidates from the shortlist and appointed the candidate that matched their selection criteria. PPLI
delivered an induction program to the teachers and supported them with the required paperwork. In
addition, PPLI supported the visiting teachers during the academic year in their hosting schools.
The current accommodation crisis made it very challenging for teachers to secure a place to live which
resulted in not all selected candidates being able to participate in the programme. At the same time, there is
evidence that the shortage of teachers of Spanish is decreasing as several participating schools were able to
employ teachers already in Ireland which resulted in their withdrawal from the scheme.
Impact:
While the feedback from schools has been very positive it is becoming increasingly evident that the context
for the Scheme has changed. Considering this, the Department of Education and the Consejería de Educación
decided to pause to scheme for the academic year 2025-2026.
Next Steps:
•
Continue to support delivery of the programme for the 2024-2025 academic year
•
Explore other opportunities for collaboration
- PPLI ANNUAL REPORT 2024 -
39
