Tony Gregory
Question:163 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science the specialist training courses covering dyslexia available to remedial teachers. [12675/01]
Written Answers - Teacher Training.
The existing full-time programmes of pre-service teacher training in the colleges of education contain appropriate elements to assist the student teachers in recognising and dealing with children with a specific learning disability such as dyslexia. This area will continue to be given attention. In this context, I am looking forward to receiving shortly the report of the expert group set up to examine pre-service training programmes for primary teachers; this group was required to have regard to developments in relation to children with special needs.
Since 1994, a national programme of training for learning support teachers – remedial – has been in place. At present, post-graduate courses for teachers at primary and post-primary levels are held in six centres in universities and in colleges of education. In the current academic year 102 primary teachers and 72 post-primary teachers are attending these courses.
These courses in learning support education are supported and funded by the in-career development unit of my Department. The syllabus includes training in the diagnosis and identification of reading difficulties and in appropriate techniques for remediation. In particular, there is a focus on the problem of specific learning difficulties, including dyslexia, in relation to diagnosis and pedagogy.
Many shorter courses for learning support teachers and other interested teachers in specific learning difficulties are supported financially by my Department. They are mainly provided through the network of education centres, through teachers' organisations and through the programme of summer courses for primary teachers.
Guidelines for learning support teachers have issued to primary schools. They deal comprehensively with the teaching of children with dyslexia. An intensive training programme based on the guidelines is at an advanced stage of development.
I also established a task force in October of last year to examine educational provision for children with dyslexia. I expect to have the report and recommendations of the task force shortly.