asked the Minister for Education if he will recognise Montessori graduates of Sion Hill College, County Dublin, for national school teaching purposes; and, if not, the educational grounds for refusing such recognition.
Written Answers. - Montessori Graduates.
538.
Careful consideration has been given over the years to requests to grant recognition to those who hold the Montessori teacher's diploma. It was decided that recognition be granted to holders of this diploma who are employed in special schools for mildly mentally handicapped or emotionally disturbed children.
The diploma has not been recognised as a suitable qualification for teachers employed in ordinary national schools. This decision was based on educational grounds taking into account the course followed for the Montessori teacher's diploma, the curriculum of the primary schools, the educational philosophy on which this curriculum is based and the pedagogical requirements for its implementation.
I have now asked that all aspects of the matter should be reviewed.