Dozens of Irish teachers are leaving their jobs at home to head to UAE

  DUBLIN – Ireland is going to see an exodus of teachers in August after dozens of educators head to the UAE to fill up posts in primary and secondary schools, according to a report on Saturday (July 9). Low salaries and a decline in job opportunities in Ireland have pushed dozens of its teachers to seek greener pastures in the UAE, the Irish Independent reported. "A sense of adventure is the attraction for some, with others viewing the opportunity as a chance to build up savings towards a house back home - something many said they felt was nigh impossible to do on current Irish teachers' salaries," according to the Irish Independent. Myra Reddington, 33, is taking up a new teaching post in Dubai after working in Mayo, western Ireland. "As a couple, my husband and myself have been working 11 years as teachers and in all that time we've barely been able to save towards our future. We're actually going to be paid a little bit less than what we're earning here but with nothing going to the tax man and our accommodation paid for, between us we'll be coming out almost GBP2,000 (Dh8,000) ahead each month," Reddington said. Reddington said she was looking forward to improving her earnings. "The school I'm heading to, for example, very much goes out of its way to reward staff who perform well, offering incentives and bonuses," she said. Katie Fortune, 23, is heading to Abu Dhabi with three friends less than a month after completing her Masters degree. She said that she could not wait to "get out of damp Ireland and get some sun in Abu Dhabi. “This is a great way of seeing a different part of the world and save money at the same time," she said. Another Irish teacher is taking his entire family to Abu Dhabi after 14 years of working as a teacher in Ireland. Ronan Murphy, 35, is leaving Cavan with his wife and three children. "For us, this is an investment in our future," Murphy said. "We're excited to take up a new challenge after 14 years teaching in Ireland. Financially it's a sound investment, and it's a chance for our children to experience a different culture." Pay cuts imposed on new teachers have taken a toll on Ireland’s teaching force, said Peter Mullan of the Irish National Teachers Organisation. "Due to the pay cuts imposed on new teachers, and the fact that, particularly at secondary level, there are a lot of people who can't get full hours here, it's no surprise that we've hundreds of teachers looking to take advantage of more attractive pay packages in other countries," Mullan said. Up to half of Irish teachers under 35 years old can only find part-time employment, working only a handful of hours every week, Mullan was quoted as saying. Starting salaries can vary but on average many newly-qualified teachers in permanent positions in Ireland will earn less than GBP29,000 (Dh116,000) annually, often with high rents and transport costs.