75pc of parents think teachers do good job
Wednesday February 24 2010
THREE-quarters of parents believe teachers are doing a good job, a new survey reveals.
The boost for the teaching profession is outlined in the study which finds that only 6pc feel they are doing their jobs badly or very badly.
The survey of 1,000 adults, carried out by independent market research company, IReach Market Research, showed that, overall, there were positive attitudes to the teaching profession. The majority of respondents were satisfied with the way teachers do their jobs and had a high level of trust in teachers.
There was also a strong endorsement of the valuable role teachers played in our society and a good level of understanding of the complexity of the role and the skill level required. Key findings of the survey, commissioned by the Teaching Council, included:
- Of the 12 professions and occupations referenced in the survey, satisfaction levels for teachers ranked second (after nurses).
- Teaching was perceived as a profession with either a medium or high level of complexity by 87pc of respondents.
- That was echoed in the response to a separate question in the survey, when 75pc of respondents disagreed that "teaching is an easy job".
- A similar proportion (80pc) agreed that "teachers play an important role in our society".
The most commonly perceived attractions that respondents associated with the teaching profession were work-life balance and the opportunity to work with children and to make a difference. The challenges of discipline, class size and insufficient resources were perceived as the most pressing issues associated with the job.
Four-in-five respondents considered teaching to be a difficult job and almost the same number (78pc) agreed that teachers should be given regular opportunities for upskilling.
- John Walshe Education Editor
Irish Independent
