Vol. 490 No. 7
82 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers who have received in-service training in relation to the pilot foreign language initiative in primary schools; and whether he has issued guidelines to schools in relation to the scheduling of the classes. [11100/98]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that project leaders will shortly be appointed to develop and organise training programmes for teachers involved in the pilot project on modern languages. Applications for these posts have already been received and arrangements for the interviewing of suitable applicants are currently being made. In the circumstances, no teachers, have yet received in-service training in relation to the pilot project.
The pilot project will be introdudced in approximately 250 schools in September 1998. Selected schools will be notified of their participation in the near future.
The languages targeted in the project will be French, German, Italian and Spanish. Schools have been informed that 1.5 hours per week will be allocated to teaching modern languages under the project. The scheduling of this in the school timetable is a matter for the school authorities.
A consultative group, including representatives of the partners in education, is advising on all aspects related to the pilot project. The most recent meeting of that group was held on 11 May.
