Vol. 487 No. 2
51 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will explain to Dáil Éireann his recent decision to abolish the need for teachers to pass the written ceard teastas gaeilge; his future plans, if any, regarding the need for teachers to have passed the oral ceard teastas gaeilge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3602/98]
I recently announced an amendment to the Irish requirement for appointment as a teacher in vocational schools and community colleges. The objective of the amendment was to remove anomalies and inconsistencies which existed within the second level sector in relation to the Irish requirement for teaching purposes. Up to now, to be eligible for appointment to a teaching post under a vocational education committee, an applicant had to pass both the oral and written ceard teastas gaeilge. In the case of secondary, community and comprehensive schools, a pass in the oral component of the ceard teastas satisfied the Irish requirement.
In future it will be necessary for an applicant to have passed only the ceard teastas oral examination to satisfy the Irish requirement for appointment to a teaching position in all second level schools. With a view to ensuring an appropriate standard in the case of the oral examination a revised syllabus is currently being prepared. It is anticipated that the revised syllabus will be in effect for the examinations from spring 1999 onwards.
