asked the Minister for Education if he will state the total number of untrained teachers at present employed in national schools, indicating the number with teaching experience of (a) less than five years, (b) five to ten years, (c) ten to 15 years, and (d) more than 15 years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Untrained Teachers.
On the 1st January, 1955, the number of untrained teachers in receipt of personal salary from the Department was 2,135. This figure includes lay assistants in capitation schools and junior assistant mistresses.
Of the total number, 133 were principal and assistant teachers who, by reason of having been appointed before 1st January, 1921, were in receipt of a special scale of salary and who had all over 15 years' teaching experience. I regret that, in regard to untrained principal and assistant teachers appointed after 31st December, 1920, and all untrained junior assistant mistresses, I cannot give the exact numbers in the various sub-divisions mentioned in the Deputy's question. I trust, however, that the following information relating to the numbers of those teachers at appropriate points in their salary scale will be of assistance:—
|
Number at minimum of scale |
554 |
|
Number between 1st and 4th incre mental points inclusive |
199 |
|
Number between 5th and 9th incre mental points inclusive |
119 |
|
Number between 10th and 12th incremental points inclusive |
43 |
|
Number at maximum, 13th incre mental point of scale |
1,087 |
|
TOTAL |
2,002 |
A substantial number of those at the minimum of the scale were persons whose services were being accepted for limited periods on account of the shortage of trained teachers. These include persons who are not qualified for recognition in any capacity under the rules and regulations for national schools and also persons qualified as junior assistant mistress who were accepted temporarily as principal teachers of small schools and as assistant teachers.
In the case of teachers who are not in receipt of personal salary, viz., members of religious communities forming portion of the required minimum staff of schools paid on a capitation basis, the question of their placing on an incremental scale does not arise and the information otherwise available does not make it possible to give statistics as to the length of their teaching service.