asked the Minister for Education why a candidate (details supplied), despite having very high academic qualifications, failed to secure a place in a teacher training college for autumn, 1973.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teacher Training College Candidate.
72.
One of the conditions of the training college entrance examination is that the candidates must satisfy an interview board as to their suitability for the teaching profession. The interview board did not recommend the candidate in question for admission to the training college course.
Does the Minister not think that when a candidate who has received eight honours in the leaving certificate and a Grade A in pass mathematics that person is suitable for a teachers' training college?
Mr. R. Burke
The Minister is aware that the conditions for entry to the training colleges are a pass in needlework at Easter, a pass in the leaving certificate examination, getting a Grade C at least in three higher level papers, one of which must be Irish, also a pass in English and mathematics, to pass tests in oral Irish and singing in September and to satisfy an interview board as to suitability. I should not like to express a view as to which, or any, of these conditions might be obviated. I think if any of the conditions is not satisfied the person does not qualify. I should not like to be asked to give a decision as to which is the more important.
On the old analogy that when a Hungarian had a chicken for dinner there was something wrong with the chicken or with the Hungarian, would the Minister not agree there is something wrong with the leaving certificate or the assessors of the leaving certificate——
That is a different question.
It is not because the person concerned is very perturbed and upset about it. I would like if the Minister himself would see the person concerned. He would probably be as good a judge as I am of her suitability as a student teacher. It is a serious and scandalous position.
The Deputy is becoming argumentative.
Would the Minister see this person lest there be something wrong with the system which he would be in a position to remedy?
The Deputy might ask that of the Minister outside the House. It is not part of the question that was tabled.
With respect, it is of the essence of the question that something has happened which seems to indicate that the system is wrong somewhere. For that reason I would like to press it and ask the Minister would he himself interview this person and if he thinks the process was incorrect——
The Deputy will appreciate that we could have a long discussion on this but it would not be suitable for Question Time.
Would the Minister agree to see the person concerned?
Mr. R. Burke
Much as I appreciate the Deputy's concern for the particular individual, and there are other individuals in the same position——
In the exact same position regarding the number of honours, and so on?
Mr. R. Burke
I would not say the exact number of honours but there are other matters involved apart from the number of honours. The interview boards set up to deal with these matters take decisions and I think it would be a very bad precedent if the Minister for Education were to start interfering with their decisions.
Is the Minister saying that the interview board was infallible?
The Deputy and the Minister will appreciate that we are going outside the realm of the question. No. 73.
Mr. R. Burke
I was leading up to the point that I had to decline the invitation of the Deputy to see the person involved.