Vol. 404 No. 9
8 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the dramatic decline in male entrants to primary teacher training colleges; if any study has been carried out on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
45 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for Education if she is concerned at the dramatic reduction in the number of males entering teaching training colleges; if she considers that the imbalance between male and female teachers is good for the primary education system; the measures she proposes to take in relation to the imbalance; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 45 together.
I am aware that the number of males entering the colleges of education for primary teachers has, for many years, been significantly lower than the number of females; and also that after rising during the mid-1980s, the proportion of male entrants has fallen again to its 1981 level.
It is difficult to predict the future trend of the percentage of female-male students in the colleges of education given that from 1981 to 1990 the figures go full circle, rising from 13 per cent males to 20 per cent (1984) and back to 13 per cent again.
My Department, in conjunction with the college authorities, keep the output and quality of primary teachers under ongoing review. The Deputy will appreciate that any action taken in relation to the male-female balance, however, cannot involve discriminating between male and female candidates.
Let me add that whilst Deputy Higgins' question is interesting, of much more relevance is why, with such a great number of female primary teachers in the teaching cohort there are not more female principals in the schools.
Would the Minister not agree that there is a basic underlying question here, that it is fundamentally, educationally and socially unsound that there should be an imbalance; that there should be a mix within schools, and that basically the school should be a reflection of the home where there should be role models? There are 93 females as against seven males in St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, first year; 93 females and seven males in Limerick; and 14 out of 14 in the Church of Ireland School. Would the Minister not agree that this in itself is an indication of a general malaise within the profession, the demoralisation, frustration and tension at the fact that we have the largest classes in Europe——
The time for dealing with priority questions is quite exhausted, and I am being generous with the Deputy.
We have the lowest per capita spending and, in addition, a 26 point salary scale with no promotional or little promotional opportunities.
We shall have to go on to other questions.
Let me say quite openly that I find the Deputy's question a trifle chauvinistic. I wonder if it were the other way around and there were a large number of males and a small number of females would that excite the Deputy just as much? I do not think it would.
The Minister is rich in rhetoric and short on logic.
Let us proceed to other questions.
