Vol. 424 No. 2
4 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education his views on whether the number of students entering training colleges must be significantly increased that, if any significant progress is to be made in the matter of reducing the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools, and providing a remedial provision in all schools, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
55 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education where decisions on the number admitted to teacher training colleges are made; the reason the number admitted in 1992 showed no increase despite the projected shortage of teachers; and whether he has satisfied himself that there are sufficient teachers to ensure that only qualified teachers work in classrooms in future years.
I propose to take Priority Question No. 4 and Question No. 55 together.
Significant progress has been made over the past few years in reducing the pupil-teacher ratio. This has been possible through the decline in pupil numbers which have dropped from 567,000 in 1986-87 to an estimated 520,000 in the current year. It is projected that the numbers will drop by a further 84,000 by the year 2000.
In these circumstances, my Department do not consider that the number of students entering training colleges must be significantly increased at this point to enable the question of further reducing the pupil-teacher ratio to be considered. The matter is, however, kept under constant review in the light of developments in the demand-supply position.
Would the Minister agree, having regard to known demographic trends, that if we are to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio in our primary schools from 25.1:1 to 22.5:1 that a further 5,000 teachers will be required by the year 1996 and that approximately another 1,000 teachers would be required if the two-thirds of our national schools with no remedial teacher at present were to have one assigned to them? These are not the full targets that should be put before us. How we can meet those two targets given that the current intake into our colleges of education is 250 students per year?
It seems that there is a dispute about these numbers. I am aware that the INTO, through their general secretary, take the view that the sums are different. However, all the evidence available to me suggests that the demographic trends are as I have outlined. It is my earnest hope that this decline will lead to resources being freed which I could then use in attacking the pupil-teacher ratio with priority being given to disadvantaged schools.
Mr. O'Shea rose.
A brief question, Deputy. I want to deal with the remaining question if we can, time permitting.
Given that he has not disputed the figure of 1,000 as regards the number of remedial teachers that would be required, can the Minister say how this target of providing each school with a remedial teacher can be met given that the current intake each year is only 250 and some teachers retire each year?
More than 70 per cent of all pupils are now covered by the remedial teacher scheme nationally. The first item addressed in the Green Paper was the question of disadvantaged pupils. I hope this will lead to Government policy being focused on the need to provide more remedial services in schools so that all, not 70 per cent of pupils, will be covered.
