Vol. 529 No. 3
44 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will consider changing the guidelines concerning secondary school teachers who wish to train as primary school teachers; and if he will consider amending the guidelines to allow persons with the Ceard Teastas to train as primary school teachers. [2220/01]
As a response to a shortage in the supply of primary teachers, my Department requested the colleges of education to provide a postgraduate course to enable degree holders train as primary teachers. The duration of this full-time course is 18 months. Eligible secondary teachers may apply for this course in the normal way. My Department has no plans at present to provide a course designed exclusively for secondary teachers.
As part of the minimum academic requirements, specified by my Department for entry to primary teacher training, all candidates, including school leavers, mature students and university graduates, must have a minimum of a grade C in higher level in Irish in the leaving certificate or an approved equivalent. This requirement embodies both the written and oral element of a student's proficiency in Irish. My Department considers it to be the minimum standard in Irish necessary for students entering a teacher training course which will equip them to teach Irish to pupils at all levels of the primary school. The Ceard Teastas is not regarded as an approved equivalent to the leaving certificate requirement for entry to primary teacher training.
