UK shortage of deaf education teachers is at a critical point. Over 2,000 deaf children live in Wales. One in five deaf teachers has left the profession since 2011. The Welsh Government has announced its commitment to developing the skills of the education workforce, including deaf teachers.
The present study highlights a concerning trend in the education sector, particularly regarding the diminishing support for deaf children in the UK. The study also discloses a significant shortage of qualified teachers for deaf students, exacerbated by budget cuts and an ageing workforce.
This has led deaf children to face an educational crisis, with insufficient specialised support jeopardising their prospects. Urgent action is needed to address this issue, ensuring adequate resources and government support to safeguard the educational rights of deaf students and their families. Moreover, this article deals with the reasons for the UK’s shortage of deaf education teachers.
17% decrease in teachers of deaf children
A report by the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) found that in 2023, there were 2,260 deaf children in Wales. 81% of school-age deaf children are in regular education. The number of teachers working with deaf children and their families to support their development is decreasing. Research shows that the number of fully qualified teachers of deaf children has fallen by 17% since 2011.
Retirement of 36% of teachers of the deaf within the next 15 years
Research shows that 36% of teachers of deaf children are 50 or older. They will probably retire in the next 10-15 years. Statistics show that the UK shortage of deaf education teachers is quite severe. Groups representing teachers of deaf children said all governments had recognised the need for compulsory education since the early 1900s. According to these groups, support for all schools and services was vital.
Crisis of UK shortage of deaf education teachers
Figures show a 40% decline in deaf children’s teachers, while almost half will retire in the next ten years. A charity supporting deaf children has said there is a “future education crisis” after a sharp drop in the number of specialist teachers. Almost half of professional teachers (45%) will retire in the next ten years.
British Association of Teachers of the Deaf request from the Welsh Government
The British Association of Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People has called on the Welsh Government to reconsider its 2008 budget plan, which had short-term success as an increase in the number of teachers undertaking compulsory training. The Welsh Government said that while councils are responsible for specialist learning needs services, they are committed to developing classroom skills, including teachers of deaf children.
Scottish deaf dropouts
A report by the National Society for Deaf Children predicts that young deaf people in Scotland are twice as likely to leave school without a qualification than their hearing peers. Because of the difference it’s making in children’s lives, the National Association of Deaf Children says action must be taken now. They say thousands of deaf children struggle alone in school.
A sharp decline in teachers of the deaf
Mark Ballard, head of policy and influencing for Scotland with the National Deaf Children’s Society, said: “We want local authorities and the Scottish Government to work together to guarantee there will be jobs for teachers that do the qualifications. We need proper pay and recognition of their amazing work with deaf children and young people.”
Scottish teachers’ support for deaf children
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “All teachers provide support to children and young people with additional support needs. The Additional Support for Learning Act places education authorities under a duty to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils, including those affected by deafness. Education authorities also have duties to ensure that teachers who support children and young people with sensory impairments, including deafness, are appropriately qualified.”
Scottish Government support measures for deaf students
The Scottish Government is working with the TCS to break down barriers for British Sign Language users to become teachers. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) also now offers BSL qualifications from level three to level eight. The Scottish Government provides more than £500,000 to voluntary sector organisations to support children and young people with additional support needs, including sensory impairments. The grant is to the Scottish Sensory Centre to support training and increase the capacity of staff in schools to provide adequate support to deaf children and young people.
Budget cuts cause harm to deaf students
The report indicates that the UK shortage of deaf education teachers harms children’s education due to budget cuts. Campaigners are warning that thousands of deaf children across the UK face an educational emergency as the number of specialist teachers is at an all-time low.
Lack of specialist teachers for the next few years
UK shortage of deaf education teachers will increase in the next few years. A report published in January 2023 by the Consortium for Research into Deaf Education (CRIDE) found that one in five qualified teachers of deaf people in the UK had lost posts in the past decade. Over the past year, four in 10 local authorities have seen a reduction in the number of teachers.
Exhaustion of the British education system
Every year, CRIDE collects figures on the number of qualified teachers of deaf children. Teachers who have gained more competence in teaching and supporting deaf children. The CRIDE report shows that the number of teachers of the deaf has decreased year by year. In addition, the National Society of Deaf Children (NDCS) is concerned that more than half of teachers of deaf people are over 50 years old, meaning they will likely retire in the next 10 to 15 years.
Rationing of teachers’ specialised support for deaf children
National Deaf Children’s Society says budget cuts are critical in reducing specialist teachers. Evidence collected by the charity shows a consistent pattern of council funding cuts for these services. Families have also told NDCS that the specialist support provided by teachers of deaf people to their children is increasingly rationed. Specialist support for deaf children across the UK is facing a perfect storm of cuts. This dilemma leaves thousands of students with an educational emergency.
Threatening the educational future of deaf children due to the lack of government support
Teachers of the deaf play an essential role in supporting deaf children of all ages. But this vital support is declining every year. Many deaf students struggle to reach their full potential because the support they need is no longer there. This is a complete injustice and must be changed. More than 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents who have no previous experience of deafness. Teachers of the deaf play a vital role in providing information and counselling to families in the critical early years.
