asked the Minister for Education whether singing is an indispensable qualification for admission to the women's training colleges for national teachers; and, if so, whether he will consider altering the regulations to make it possible for women to enter the teaching profession even though singing is not amongst their accomplishments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Admission to Women Teachers' Training College.
(1) The position in regard to a pass in singing as a preliminary condition for admission to the women's training colleges for national teachers is as follows:—
Students admitted to the training colleges for women in any particular year may be included in any of the following four categories:—
(a) Girls who have successfully completed a course in one of the Department's preparatory colleges;
(b) Nuns or lay native speakers of Irish who, having qualified at the training college entrance examination, are eligible for admission to training by selection, i.e., on a noncompetitive basis;
(c) University graduates who have fulfilled certain specified conditions at the training college entrance examination;
(d) Girls who have qualified for admission to training by open competition at the training college entrance examination.
A pass in singing at the training college entrance examination is an essential qualification for all candidates other than those of group (a) and the nun candidates of group (b).
In the case of candidates in group (a) —preparatory college students—singing is a compulsory test at the preparatory college entrance examination, but candidates whose general answering shows high merit may be accepted, even if they fail in the test in singing.
Nun candidates at the training college entrance examination are not required to pass in the test in singing, but nuns who fail to pass in singing are not eligible for appointment subsequently in schools other than those in which suitable provision is made for the teaching of the subject. Notice has been given that it may be necessary in connection with future examinations to require members of religious communities to pass in singing at the training college entrance examination.
(2) Music (singing) is an essential subject of the programme for national schools in all cases in which the teachers are qualified in the subject. It is most important from the cultural point of view, that as many as possible of the pupils of primary schools should receive effective instruction in singing, and it is consequently necessary that every effort should be made to ensure that the teachers leaving the training colleges are adequately qualified in that respect. The current regulations represent a development in a policy designed to secure this position at an early date. It is not regarded, then, as desirable in the interests of the children and of the nation as a whole that the existing requirements in this matter should be relaxed; rather, is it hoped in time, to extend to all categories of candidates (both men and women) the obligation of passing in singing as a condition precedent to admission to a training college.
While I appreciate the exhaustive and courteous nature of the Minister's reply, will he be good enough to tell me in brief whether there is any chance for this little girl about whom I wrote to him getting into the training college without a qualification in singing? That is what I want to know. Did I hear a paragraph in which it was stated that where a girl had exceptionally distinguished herself in other subjects she might get into the training college without singing?
If she becomes a nun.
Oh, no. Did I not hear that? Did I not hear a paragraph in which it was stated that, if a candidate exceptionally distinguished herself in other subjects, the requirement as to singing might be waived?
Perhaps the Minister would read the reply again?
All I want the Minister to do is to give me that bit. Is that correct?
I am sorry that the Deputy did not put his question on paper. I am not in a position to answer it now.
Out of that long reply of his will the Minister agree that this fact emerges: if a candidate presenting herself for competitive examination to qualify for entry into a training college exceptionally distinguishes herself in all subjects except singing, the general proviso requiring singing can be waived?
I should like to have notice of that question.
Is the Minister aware that there was a great uneasiness that various Ministers of Education down to the Taoiseach would be disqualified until we came to that brief exception he made?
Can the Minister say, with all this special emphasis on teachers being able to teach singing, whether he expects they will be able to sing now?