The Republic of Ireland continues to have more female school teachers than males.

Figures released from Eurostat to mark ‘World Teachers’ Day’ show that 87% of primary school teachers here are female, while 71% of positions in secondary schools are held by women.

Lithuania is top of the female primary teaching league in the EU with 97% of positions held by women, while Latvia, with 83%, has more female teachers in secondary level.

Ruth Deasy of the EU Commission says the teaching profession here is completely dominated by women.

“Teaching in Ireland is still very much a female profession with the vast majority of primary school teachers – 87% being women and 71% at secondary level – this puts us a little over the EU average.

“Irish teachers are some of the youngest in Europe, with just 22% over 50, compared to Italy which has more than half of it’s teachers over 50 at primary school level.”