asked the Minister for Education the reason she recognises the Montessori College in Sion Hill, Blackrock, County Dublin for the purposes of higher education grants while she does not recognise its graduates as qualified to teach in most schools funded by the State; and if she will make a statement on the educational, political and administrative considerations underlying this decision of herself and her predecessor.
Written Answers. - Blackrock (County Dublin) College.
302.
The two year and three year full-time courses leading to the international montessori diploma, available at the Montessori College, Blackrock, were approved by my Department for higher education grant purposes in 1988. Approval was granted on the basis that these were courses of third-level education of which the duration, entry requirements and academic qualification standard were comparable with many other third-level courses approved for the purposes of the higher education grants and VEC scholarships schemes.
The recognition of these courses for higher education grants purposes does not imply any extension of the recognition currently applicable to graduates of this college with respect of teaching in schools funded by the State, i.e. graduates of the three year diploma course may be recognised to teach in special schools for mentally handicapped, emotionally disturbed or multiple handicapped children or children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The recognition does not apply to any other type of national school.
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 pedogogical requirements for its implementation.