Jim Higgins
Question:24 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education if she will establish a proper system of inservice education for teachers on a region/county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - In-Service Training.
Pádraic McCormack
Question:35 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education if she will establish a proper system of inservice education for teachers on a region/county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Andrew Boylan
Question:42 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Education if she will establish a proper system of inservice education for teachers on a region/county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Paul McGrath
Question:86 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education if she will establish a proper system of inservice education for teachers on a region/county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Máirín Quill
Question:174 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Education the steps, if any, which have been undertaken to provide a comprehensive systematic regime of inservice professional development of second level teachers in order to equip them to meet the changing needs of their pupils.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 35, 42, 86 and 174 together.
I am fully aware of the need for a comprehensive inservice education programme in the education sector having regard in particular to the age profile of the teaching force, the development of new syllabuses and structures, special provision for the disadvantaged and the increasing responsibilities of school management teams.
As the Deputies may be aware, theProgramme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997 is committed to the provision of a comprehensive in-career training programme for second-level teachers. The financial provision for inservice education was increased significantly under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. Through the machinery of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, my Department is in constant consultation with the representative associations of school managers and teachers with a view to catering for what these bodies perceive as their needs in the area of inservice. My Department is in contact also with Subject Associations and other interested agencies in this regard.
There is a general consensus that inservice education should be provided on a local or regional basis which can more appropriately respond to perceived local needs. It is proposed also to utilise more fully the available local agencies such as Teacher Centres and the education departments of the universities.
The programme for a Partnership Government commits the Government to a devolution of education structures. This will involve the development of democratic intermediate structures for the management of first and second level education. This proposal will be developed further in the White Paper on Education. I envisaged that inservice education would be a suitable function for these authorities.