Primary School Teacher V Speech and Language Therapist

H

HCare

Guest
Hi,

I am in a dilemma, I am changing career and am interested in the above careers. I have applied for both and got an offer to study both in the UK. I have a science degree and a postgrad in business and am in my late twenties and it's a question of now or never! I have spoken and shadowed the appropriate professionals and feel I would be content in either. I like SLT as it is a very varied career with alot of job satisfaction (pity about the HSE- idiots). However, what puts me off is this is doing a 2yr course in the UK and after all the time studying and the expense I could easily be unemployed at the end of it. There seems to be more jobs in primary school teaching and I would like to work with children. I still think there is more variety in SLT correct me if I am wrong. I know one could get into special needs and educational psychology with further study. The problem is I only have afew days to make up my mind as one course starts next month and the other Sep 08.Has anybody been in a similar situation? Could you give me some advice. Thanks for taking the time to read this long message.
 
According to [broken link removed] in career directions there is a shortage of SLT in the UK and Ireland and "graduates should have no difficulty obtaining employment". If you do decide to do primary teaching then you will need to do an Irish equivalancy exam if you wish to teach here (within 5 years of getting a job I think). Good luck with it... follow your heart.
 
Thanks Cole,

Unfortunately there seems to be an embargo on Basic Grade Posts in SLT at the moment. These things go in cycles. As for the Irish exam goes I know that it is a fairly comprehensive exam alright. Thanks for your reply and the attached link.
 
Well it looks like the primary school population will be expanding over the next decade so there will be opportunities for teachers. The Department has expanded the amount of places on H.Dip Primary and Hibernia College are offering a DL route. I get the impression from what I read, that there is competition for jobs but people usually get sorted, so maybe the supply of newly qualifieds is matching vacancies right now.

Check out www.educationposts.com the message board had loads of information/shared experiences re current situation.
 
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