asked the Minister for Education the emphasis being placed in his Department on career guidance in the second level system; the total number of second level colleges in the country; the number of career guidance teachers in the country; the number of career guidance teachers in the vocational system; if he is satisfied that sufficient resources are being made available for career guidance teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Career Guidance.
174.
In secondary schools in which the number of recognised pupils is not less than 500 a guidance teacher may be appointed to a post outside the quota on certain conditions. In the case of a secondary school of less than 500 recognised pupils credit for incremental salary purposes is allowed for guidance work in the time table where a qualified guidance teacher is employed within the quota. Provision for guidance services in vocational, community and comprehensive schools is made in the teaching allocations issued annually by my Department to the managerial authorities of these schools.
A syllabus committee on guidance, established in 1984, have been engaged in reviewing the current guidance programmes and activities in post-primary schools and in drawing up guidelines for schools and teachers. As provided for in the national plan additional remedial and guidance teachers were allocated in 1985-86 to schools catering for disadvantaged pupils and it is proposed to make a further such allocation in 1986-87.
There are 814 post-primary schools at present. There are currently 577 guidance teachers in the post-primary sector; 137 of those are serving in the vocational sector.