asked the Minister for Education if he will state, in regard to candidates for training as national teachers, at what date the candidates are normally notified of the final decision as to whether they will be accepted for training; if he is aware that in certain cases these decisions are delayed until it is too late for the candidate, if rejected, to enter any other form of further education for that year; and if he will investigate the position of the issuing of these decisions with a view to ensuring that candidates who are not accepted for training will have the decision in time to begin study or training for an alternative career.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Training of National Teachers.
125.
Mr. O'Malley
Candidates for admission to training as national school teachers are usually notified of their success or otherwise in the third week of September.
It does happen, however, that a number of candidates having accepted a call to training subsequently change their minds and do not enter a training college, or having entered leave the college shortly after the commencement of the first term. Because of this fact it is not possible in the third week of September or for some weeks afterwards to say whether candidates who, in the order of merit list, are immediately below those who have been called to training will not be so called.
I can assure the Deputy that no avoidable delay occurs in notifying any candidate.
Would the Minister consider bringing back the date so that these people would be informed before the third week in September, which is a bit late to undertake any other academic career for that year? I think this is Deputy Corish's point: could it be brought back a little? I know it is not easy.
Mr. O'Malley
This year, for example, the results of the leaving certificate were announced on 8th August and the order of merit results were then compiled for approximately 1,400 girls and 900 boys and on 29th August candidates were called for interview. From 13th to 16th September, interviews took place in the training college and candidates in excess of the number of vacancies were called to allow for absentees, failures and successful candidates who later refused the call for training. The results of the interviews and of the oral tests come to my Department—I do not see them; somebody else deals with them—and the unsuccessful candidates are informed the following day. The college authorities are furnished with a list of successful candidates immediately and they call students to the college to fill existing vacancies. I suppose there are problems.
Would it be possible to have them interviewed the previous Easter?
Mr. O'Malley
The Deputy will appreciate that in the case of girls, they have to do a needlework test at Easter.
Would that not be enough of an interview?
Mr. O'Malley
What?
To have a general interview at that time.
Mr. O'Malley
We have not had a tremendous amount of representation that this is a hardship but I will have a look at the position again.
My inquiry is an academic one, arising from the question.