QUEENSLAND is losing its male teachers at a rapid rate, with men fearing they will be labelled inappropriate for working with children.

The Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) has commissioned a review to examine what influences people to choose teaching as their first career.

The review is being held as the number of male teachers in Queensland state primary schools has fallen to just 16 per cent.

QCT director John Ryan said the review would be a valuable insight for education employers looking to recruit more men.

Queensland Teachers’ Union president Kevin Bates said there was still an unfair view that teaching was women’s work.

“In our community there is a bit of a perception that it is a feminised profession,” he said. “There are elements that attach suspicion to men in the classroom, which are not justified.’’

Queensland Association of State School Principals president Michael Fay said remuneration was often a factor too.

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“There are other options available at the moment that pay much better than teaching,” Mr Fay said.

“It makes them look at other options rather than opting for teaching.”

He acknowledged there could also be an unfair perception around males working in the classroom.

“I think it’s a fantastic profession and we need more men in the classroom,” he said.

“We want good, young men who are keen to teach and make a difference.” While shying away from suggesting quotas for teachers in schools, Mr Fay said other incentives like scholarships should be considered to get males into teaching, as should increasing pay rates.

“It’s really important to have a mix of both male and female teachers as role models at school and anything that can be done to encourage males to take on teaching would be a positive step forward,” he said.

media_camera Chapel Hill State School Prep teacher Jesse Olds has been recognised as a finalist in the Queensland College of Teachers Beginning to Teach awards. Picture: Annette Dew

But a Department of Education spokesman said recruitment policies could not be employed to attract males into teaching because that would unlawfully discriminate on the grounds of gender.

He said the department was working on effective teacher attraction and retention strategies.

Chapel Hill State School Prep teacher Jesse Olds may be a rarity but is determined to help his students achieve their best results.

Now in his third year of teaching, he has been recognised as a finalist in the Queensland College of Teachers Beginning to Teach awards.

“The most exciting thing about being a teacher is making things exciting and creative for the kids but actually seeing them learn and get better every day,” Mr Olds said.