THE number of male teachers has dropped so dramatically there will be none left in primary schools within 50 years unless governments take action, researchers say.
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Australia's first longitudinal study of teacher numbers found the number of male primary school and high school teachers has dropped by 10 per cent and 14 per cent respectively since 1977.
Stawell West Primary School principal Jim O’Brien said teaching remained a great career for men.
The school has eight teachers and two, including himself, are men.
“There is certainly a shortage and I am not sure how it can be changed,” he said.
“It can be a great career for a male. There is plenty of opportunity within schools, a chance to travel and to be part of a community effort to educate children.”
Mr O’Brien’s father was a principal so his career decision was easy, he said.
“This helped influence my decision,” he said.
“But it just feels good to help somebody and that is why I love doing my job.”
St Patrick’s Primary School at Stawell has only one male teacher on staff.
Principal Liz McIntyre said there had never been an abundance of male teachers during her career.
”Perhaps there are fewer male teachers because they have other ideas and professions they wish to go into,” she said. “Traditionally, males have not necessarily been drawn to teaching.”
But Ms McIntyre said it was important for students to have both male and female teachers as role models in the classroom.
“Males in the industry have something to offer – they are good role models for boys and girls and the students would be able to see that teachers can be both male and female,” she said.
