The UK and Ireland’s English language teaching sector went through multiple periods of disruption during the Covid-19 pandemic with restrictions on travel and face-to-face teaching. Many teachers had to leave the profession and the resulting teacher shortage has created huge opportunities to work in the sector, according to a spokesperson from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, which certifies the CELTA qualification.
“With little or no work, many teachers had to leave the profession during the pandemic,” says David Charnaud, of Cambridge, “which has left the whole sector facing a significant teacher shortage. Now that the restrictions are lifting there are huge opportunities for people who want to teach English as a foreign language in the UK and Ireland. In the past, thousands of people from all over the world with a CELTA qualification came to the UK and Ireland to teach English. It’s a fantastic and life-changing cultural experience of living and working overseas, but sadly this hasn’t been possible over the past two years. We now find ourselves with not having enough teachers for jobs, so we’re asking people who have a CELTA or would like to study for one to come forward and find out more about this rewarding career path.”
Figures from English UK show that 91% of UK ELT jobs were affected by the pandemic, with 54% of staff being released by the end of 2020. However, English UK’s latest data shows student numbers improving through 2021 and in the first quarter of 2022 an increase of 172% on the same period in 2021, so schools all over the UK are now hiring teachers and other staff.
“After two years of Covid-19 related disruption, the UK ELT industry is roaring back to life,” says Huan Japes, Membership Director at English UK. “[It’s] creating excellent opportunities for CELTA-qualified teachers, whether they are looking for seasonal work this summer or a longer-term career. Now is the time to make use of your qualification and explore the many opportunities available to you’.
You can find out more about CELTA here.
