Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 4

Written Answers. - In-Service Training.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

41 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the special provision or actions by way of in-service training; the preparation of course and guidance materials; the other initiatives, if any, taken by his Department in 1999 in preparation for the introduction of film as a text in the subject of English in the leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15609/99]

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

100 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount of money mobilised in 1999 in support of in-career development for teachers; the proportion of the total amount mobilised being allocated to in-career development for teachers in preparation for the introduction of film as a text in the subject of English in the leaving certificate examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15668/99]

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

101 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of hours, courses and places provided in 1999 for in-career development of teachers; the breakdown by regional training centres of hours, courses and places provided; the number of hours, courses and places provided for teachers in preparation for the introduction of film as a text in the subject of English and the leaving certificate examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15669/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 100 and 101 together.

The preparation of teachers for the introduction of film as a text in leaving certificate English is an integral part of the extensive inservice programme currently being implemented by my Department for the over 4,100 teachers of leaving certificate English. This programme is funded by the in-career development unit and was developed by the inspectorate in collaboration with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and with the trainers for the programme.

In year one of the in-service programme which started last autumn, a module on film as an element of comparative study formed part of a series of full-day meetings for teachers in local groups.

As part of the ongoing programme of training of trainers, an intensive three-day programme on film as a text in comparative studies will be given to the group of thirteen trainers in early September 1999. This will prepare them to deliver specific in-service on film to the teachers concerned. This training programme will focus on: the reading of film as text; the semiotics of a film text; classroom methodologies appropriate to the teaching of film; and discussion-writing-skills appropriate to the inclusion of film alongside written text.

The above programme on the study of film as text will form part of the overall in-service training for teachers in year two. In addition support will be provided for the teachers by means of helplines, the provision of a range of materials, training in the area of information and communication technology and in-service training organised by subject associations.

Apart from the provision for training in the area of information and communication technology within the schools IT 2000 programme, the amount of money available for the in-career development of teachers in 1999 is £9.320 million. A further amount of approximately £1 million is also under consideration. The estimated cost of in-service for the revised leaving certificate English curriculum to be met from this provision is £1.26 million; this in-service caters for the film element of the curriculum for which there is not a separate allocation.

Information on the number of hours and courses, which will be provided in 1999, will not be available until after the end of the year. In 1998, there were 134,527 participants in in-career development who received 848,285 hours training in a wide range of courses. It is expected that numbers will be of the same order in 1999. In addition the national centre for technology in education (NCTE) provided training for 24,000 teachers in 1998. It is expected that 21,000 places will be available on NCTE funded courses this year.

Twelve hours training is being provided during 1999 for each of the teachers involved in the revised leaving certificate curriculum through local meetings and school visits which will include in-service in the area of film. Further support is being provided by means of helplines, materials, ICT training and training organised by subject associations to which I referred to earlier in the context of film.