EDUCATION authorities throughout the country are having problems recruiting teachers, but big efforts are being made to turn the tide.

The government has produced cash carrots to try to tempt graduates into the profession and some areas are trying to persuade teachers who took early retirement a few years ago to come back into the classroom.

But unions claim the job is not attractive because pay is low and too much time is taken up with paperwork. Morale is also said to be at rock bottom because of a lack of resources in schools and general low esteem amongst staff.

In such a situation, the inspirational leadership that someone like Barbara Mitchell could give as a primary school headteacher with 17 years experience might seem to be invaluable.

Pity, then, that she feels she must retire early because she cannot continue working a 70-hour week.

She says her teachers need someone to talk and offer encouragement to them but she is so exhausted she cannot do that.

"Heads, staff and children have no time to rest," she says.

Our schools desperately need people like Mrs Mitchell and it is a sad indictment of the present system that someone with her skills feels she must quit.

Until they become places where dedicated people want to work and remain until retirement, the government will not have solved the recruitment problem.