Male teachers are a rare sight in primary schools across Australia and, as the number of men enrolling in education dwindles, some fear they could become a thing of the past.

Key points: Four per cent of UniSA students studying teaching are male

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At the University of South Australia only 4 per cent of students studying early childhood education are male, with less than 10 graduating each year.

The number is slightly higher for primary teaching, with 17 per cent of students male, however, the majority intend to work in upper primary or as physical education teachers.

For the past four years, early childhood education lecturer Martyn Mills-Bayne has been trying to increase the number of males in the degree through a support program.

"What can happen in studying and teaching is that it can become a very isolating experience for men," he said.

"The MENtor program allows connections between men who have been through the program and men who are out there teaching who can perhaps provide that unique experience of being a male teaching in an early childhood or primary setting."

Mr Mills-Bayne said men interested in educating young children were too often deterred.

"The two reasons I've found is that society's views of working with young children is seen as 'women's work,' that men aren't generally viewed as being in the caring role with young children," he said.

"That's coupled with the fact that many men are scared of, or worried about being accused of impropriety with young children or false accusations that could end their career."

Akash Krishna is in his third year of an early childhood education degree and said his passion for teaching helped him overcome insecurities.

"When I first started, you walk into the room and you're pretty much the only male who comes to the tutorials and lectures," he said.

"But I've had really positive influences throughout my studies from family to the MENtor program and good friends who have supported me along the way."

Children 'missing out on diverse teaching experience'

One in five Australian primary school teachers is male with a growing number of schools staffed entirely by females.

"Our children are missing out on what is a diverse teaching experience ... some children don't experience a male teacher until upper primary school," Mr Mills-Bayne said.

Sorry, this video has expired Male teachers ( Rebecca Opie )

"Providing that diversity in young children's experiences allows them to see complex relationships in classrooms and beyond."

A report commissioned by the Education Department in 2009 titled 'Teacher Supply and Demand in South Australia — Beyond 2010' called for specific attention to be given to the number of male graduates.

Despite this, there are yet to be any strategies or campaigns in South Australia aimed at encouraging more men into teaching.

Sam Bradley from the Department of Education and Child Development said their priority was sourcing high quality teachers irrespective of gender.

"The Department for Education and Child Development is an equal opportunity employer with an open selection recruitment policy," she said.

"This means the teaching positions advertised are open to registered male and female teachers through a merit selection process and the panel at the school determines the most suitable applicant for the position."

Teachers 'should be hired on merit', not gender

Jess Moroney is one of two male teachers at Woodside Primary School in the Adelaide Hills.

Mr Moroney said while he would like to see a greater gender balance between male and female teachers, hiring should be based on merit.

"At the end of the day as long as you have someone who is dedicated and motivated, regardless of gender I think it's important that you've got the right people in the job," he said.

Jess Moroney from Adelaide's Woodside Primary School is one of two male teachers at the school. ( ABC News: Rebecca Opie )

For Mr Moroney it was a chance encounter with an old teacher later in life that inspired him to follow in his footsteps.

"That meeting was the thing that turned me around and got me keen to better myself," he said.

"I thought if that was something he could do for me then I wanted to pass that on and give students the opportunity to succeed whether or not they felt that could."

After teaching for eight years, he said it was the little moments of student achievement that made teaching the right decision for him.

"When they get something for the first time, you just see that look of satisfaction ... it just gives you a really good feeling to see someone else better themself, improve and be happy with their success, regardless of how small it is," Mr Moroney said.

Woodside Primary School acting principal Marcia Bungay said she would like to see more male teachers fronting classrooms.

"I think it's great for children to have that experience with male and female teachers, I would love to have male teachers even in the junior primary years just for that interaction that you get with younger students," she said.

Ms Bungay said young male students could particularly benefit from seeing men engaged in literacy activities.