asked the Minister for Education the total number of schools, including vocational schools, secondary schools, training colleges, primary schools, industrial schools and other institutions, which are subject to inspection in respect of drawing by the one inspector in his Department, and the total number of pupils concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teaching of Drawing.
49.
The actual inspection work of the Department's Art Inspector is confined almost entirely to vocational schools. Art and/or drawing is being taught in 305 of these schools to 22,500 pupils.
How does the Minister expect the one inspector to get around to all the schools in the area or how often does he think they could be inspected?
Perhaps the Deputy may not be aware that in the vocational schools a good deal of the drawing consists of mechanical drawing which is separately inspected by inspectors who are known as Grade B Inspectors (Manual Instruction). So that it is not just one inspector inspecting all the schools in drawing.
But even in the vocational schools there is drawing of another kind which I respectfully ask the Minister to consider it would be impossible for the one inspector to inspect together with the secondary schools that have to be inspected.
The duties of the inspector in the main relate to the formulation and co-ordination of courses and work connected with examinations.
Surely the Minister is not making light of the need to have routine inspections for the benefit of pupils and teachers?
No, I am not doing so.
Good.
50.
asked the Minister for Education the percentage of (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) vocational schools in which drawing is taught.
Drawing is taught in 20.8 per cent of primary schools, though only in the infant classes in most cases. Mechanical drawing and/ or art is taught in all vocational schools. Drawing or art is taught in 71.2 per cent of secondary schools.