A teaching union has called for an end to “wild-west employment practices” in how some Northern Ireland schools recruit substitutes.
The NASUWT claim many schools ignore official appointment procedures and fill temporary teaching posts through word of mouth or on social media.
A letter has now been sent to the Equality Commission to request a formal investigation into teacher recruitment.
It follows a 2016 agreement with NASUWT and other teaching unions on the appropriate use of the Northern Ireland Substitute Teacher Register (NISTR).
This states that the NISTR should not be used to cover temporary or full-time posts that last at least six months.
NASUWT General Secretary, Dr Patrick Roach, said the situation in Northern Ireland had become “out of control”.
“Schools are misusing the NISTR system to employ teachers on a day-to-day basis (sometimes for many years) when the jobs should have been advertised on a temporary or permanent basis,” he said.
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“Not only does this prevent equality of opportunity, but it also deprives temporary teachers of security of tenure and the right to sick pay.
“It is high time to end these ‘wild west’ employment practices and ensure that teachers’ rights to fair and equal treatment are fully respected.”
The union’s Northern Ireland official, Justin McCamphill, added: “These are public sector jobs and schools must be accountable to the public for how they are filled.
“It is entirely unfair that the scrutiny which applies to the rest of the public sector in terms of employment does not apply to teacher recruitment.
“We wish to engage with the Equality Commission as to how they can shine a public light on teacher recruitment and ensure that all teachers have equality of opportunity.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: "The Appropriate Use of the Northern Ireland Substitute Teacher Register (NISTR) was agreed through the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee (TNC) and issued to all schools. It explains when it is permissible to use NISTR to engage teachers."
They continued: “NISTR should be used to provide immediate, unplanned, short-term cover only and for a period not (normally) in excess of six months. It should not be used to cover vacant full-time and part-time posts which are expected to last for a minimum period of six months.
"Such positions should (normally) be publicly advertised and appointed in accordance with the relevant Teaching Appointments Scheme.”
Earlier this year, schools had been warned by the department about the risks associated with contacting teachers outside of NISTR.
This includes safeguarding concerns, in that a teacher may not have a recent vetting check, could be on an unsuitable persons' list or under investigation.
A teacher not on the NISTR may not also have the relevant qualifications, and schools could be left open to legal challenges from teachers over the fairness of employment opportunities.
Schools were advised to cease engagement of teachers not cleared by NISTR, and said they would otherwise have to accept liability for any additional safeguarding risks.
