Vol. 438 No. 4
288 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the proportion of trainee teachers taking the special education option is quite low; and whether this will create problems in implementing the desirable integration of children with special needs into ordinary schools.
The Special Education Review Committee considered the issue of specialist training for teachers and recommended that initial teacher-education and training courses, at primary and post-primary levels, should include as an integral part obligatory components on the identification, assessment and teaching of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
I am requesting my Department's officials to raise this matter with the relevant training colleges with a view to having the recommendation in the report implemented.
