Records in my Department indicate that a total of 20,059 days were worked by untrained teachers in the first three months of this year. The corresponding figure for the first three months of 1998 was 14,962 days. There are no similar details available in relation to second level.
Since coming into office I have been concerned at the large number of untrained personnel working within the primary education system. Accordingly, I have introduced a range of measures which are designed to boost substantially the supply of trained primary teachers. Firstly, I have ensured that the intake of trainee teachers to the colleges of education in 1998-99 was increased to over 1,000. This includes 748 students who will pursue the three year B. Ed. Degree programme, while 280 degree holders have been admitted to an 18 month full-time post-graduate training course. There were 500 entrants on the 1996-97 year.
Additionally, B. Ed. graduates of St. Mary's College, Belfast, who have studied Irish to honours level as an academic subject as part of their teaching qualifications will be recognised as fully trained.
I am also examining the possibility of the University of Limerick providing a one year conversion course for degree holders who hold the Higher Diploma in Education and who either have Irish as part of their degree or have Irish to Grade C at the leaving certificate or its equivalent.
I further decided that from 1 September 1998, all primary degree holders who also hold the Higher Diploma in Education are recognised as fully trained for the purposes of providing substitution service.
Finally, Montessori trained teachers who successfully completed the course of three years duration at St. Nicholas, Dún Laoghaire, and which is recognised by the National Council for Education Awards, are granted recognition as fully trained substitutes since 1 September 1998.
In all, these initiatives will have a significant impact in reducing the number of untrained substitutes days in our primary schools.