Vol. 443 No. 4
5 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education the number of places that will be available in September 1994 to graduates who wish to become primary teachers; where this course will be conducted; the duration of the course; and if she will compare the number of places available for this course to the places lost to graduates wishing to enrol for higher diploma courses in September 1994.
The provision of a post-graduate course which would enable university graduates to train as primary teachers has been approved in principle. My Department is currently in discussion with the colleges of education for primary teachers with a view to agreeing details of the implementation of the proposed course in the colleges. At this stage, while full details are not yet available, I can say that it is intended to take on 180 graduate students on the proposed course. Discussions with the colleges involved have not been completed and the duration of the course is one of the matters still under consideration.
The proposed intake for 1994 is 800 for the higher diploma course, the largest number of places available, with the exception of 1993, since 1988. The number of places on post-graduate teacher training courses in 1994 will therefore be 980 including the 180 graduate students on the primary teaching course. This is a reduction of 47 on the total number of places for post-graduate teacher training in 1993 and an increase of over 200 for 1991 and 1992 and, indeed, is a significant increase for all the years back to 1988.
I welcome the additional graduate places and the fact that 180 graduate places will be available for people who train as primary teachers. This raises a number of questions, however. Why was the number of places available for people to train as primary teachers not increased? The Minister is now taking people whose second choice may be primary teaching. They will be given a type of crash course in teaching methods and turned out as primary teachers. Will the Minister, in her negotiations on this course, bear in mind that graduates spend three years training to be primary teachers?
We must proceed by way of brief questions at this time rather than by statements.
Is the Minister aware that at least 60 per cent of that three years is spent on education? Will the Minister ensure that the same level of teaching practice and educational content will be available in this graduate course? Many trainee teachers——
The Deputy must notice that there are hardly five minutes left in which to deal with the remaining questions.
Will the Minister ensure a high level of teacher training in the course?
I thank the Deputy for welcoming the announcement. Last year there was an extra intake into the three year training colleges. I share the Deputy's anxiety about a crash course. While I am able to announce 180 places today the duration of the course is still under discussion. I will take the Deputy's concerns on board.
