Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 6

Written Answers. - Primary Teachers.

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I am aware that schools in certain areas of the country are experiencing difficulty in obtaining qualified primary teachers at present. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a range of measures has been introduced to boost substantially the supply of trained primary teachers.

The intake of trainee primary teachers to the colleges of education was increased substantially in the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 sessions. The total intake in the 1999-2000 academic year was 1,283 compared with an intake of 500 in 1996-97.

Between the 2000 and 2001 academic years it is projected that approximately 1,900 newly trained teachers will graduate from the colleges of education. This represents a huge increase in the number of trained graduates as compared with 1995 when 291 graduated.

A number of other initiatives to reduce the number of untrained personnel have also been introduced. Bachelor of Education graduates of St. Mary's College, Belfast who have studied Irish to honours level as an academic subject as part of their teaching qualification are now recognised as fully qualified. An audit of schools for this purpose has not been organised in the Dublin area.

Since September 1998 all primary degree holders who hold the higher diploma in education are paid as fully trained substitute teachers and in the current academic year those with grade C honours in the leaving certificate are paid at the trained rate when employed in a temporary capacity.

Teachers with the Montessori qualification which is awarded on completion of the three year full time course in the Association Montessori Internationale, AMI, College, Milltown, Dublin 14, and teachers trained in St. Nicholas, Dun Laoghaire, Montessori who have successfully completed the full-time course of at least three years duration which is recognised by the National Council for Educational Awards are also recognised as being fully qualified substitute teachers.

The decision to recognise fully qualified teachers who trained outside the State to teach in certain categories of schools and classes without the necessity to hold an Irish language qualification is also contributing to an improvement in the supply of trained primary teachers.