asked the Minister for Education his plans concerning (1) the reduction of the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools, (2) the extension and improvement of remedial teaching and (3) the extension of training for national teachers to three years; and the effects of the extension of training on the availibility of new teachers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teacher Training.
42.
As stated in my reply of 16th May, about 570 teachers over and above replacement requirements will be available in the forthcoming school year. This will enable, inter alia, improvements to be made in the teacher-pupil ratio from 1st July next and about 150 teachers to be employed as remedial teachers and teachers of special classes.
A three-year course of training will commence in September, 1974. In anticipation of the course, extra students, over and above expected requirements, were admitted to training in 1973.