Vol. 497 No. 4
189 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the post graduate course for conversion to primary education in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland is 12 months; and if he will reduce the Irish course to conform with this shorter conversion course. [25290/98]
The graduate diploma in education, primary teaching, is a full-time course of 18 months duration. It is designed to enable students who already have university degrees to train as primary teachers. The content of this course is designed to provide students with the professional and academic foundation for teaching at primary level. It seeks to equip students with the competence to teach at all levels of the primary school and students are required to have a mastery and competence in all the curricular areas of the primary school.
This course includes 16 weeks teaching practice in primary schools. To equip students with the necessary competence in Irish, all students study professional Irish. As schools in Ireland are predominately denominational students also complete a course leading to a certificate in religious studies. These latter requirements are not necessary in the United Kingdom.
It is the view of the authorities of the colleges of education that 18 months is the minimum acceptable duration of this course.
