Written Answers. - Teaching Qualifications.
Seán Crowe
Question:
256
Mr. Crowe
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if his attention has been drawn to the recent INTO report into unqualified teachers operating within the education system; the number of untrained teachers or untrained substitute teachers in primary schools; the number of pupils taught; the number of school days in which they were taught by these teachers; the steps his Department is taking to eliminate this practice of using unqualified teachers; and if an assessment has been carried out on the educational achievements of pupils taught by unqualified teachers and unqualified substitute teachers.
[22576/02]
I am aware of the report referred to by the Deputy. There are 910 untrained teachers paid in primary schools at present in a temporary capacity. In the current school year untrained teachers serving in a temporary capacity have been paid for 14,561 days which includes weekends. In the current school year 22,753 days have been worked by unqualified substitutes in primary schools. The information relating to the number of pupils in classes being taught by the teachers concerned is not available as the arrangement of classes is a matter for the relevant school authorities.
A range of measures to improve teacher supply have been introduced in recent years. The intake to the B.Ed. programme in the colleges of education has been increased dramatically. Since 1999 over 1,000 students have been admitted annually to the undergraduate B.Ed. programme. This represents a doubling of the number admitted to the programme in 1996. Since 1996 postgraduate diploma courses have been run by the colleges of education to increase further the number of B.Ed graduates. In February 2002, 461 students commenced the postgraduate course and these students will graduate in June 2003.
A further postgraduate course will commence in February 2003. The number of students to be admitted to that course is being finalised with the colleges of education. A total of 1,633 students completed the postgraduate course between 1996 and 2002. As outlined, the total intake to the colleges of education in the 2001-02 academic year was increased to a record 1,461. This compares with an intake of 500 in 1996-97. There are currently some 3,460 students enrolled and pursuing various stages of primary teacher training programmes in the colleges of education.
Between 2002 and 2003, it is projected that some 2,700 qualified primary teachers will graduate from the colleges of education. This represents a huge increase in the number of trained graduates compared with 1995 when 291 graduated. My Department is examining the feasibility of providing a modular type course for second level trained teachers currently teaching in primary schools, who hold the Higher Diploma in Education and the necessary academic requirement in Irish. This proposal will be discussed with the colleges of education in the near future and, if implemented, would enable these teachers to become fully qualified primary teachers.
As well as increasing the number of student places in the colleges of education, my Department has introduced a range of initiatives to address the current shortage of qualified teachers. B.Ed. graduates of St. Mary's college, Belfast, who study Irish to honours level as an academic subject are now recognised as fully qualified. In addition, primary degree holders with the higher diploma in education are now paid on the trained salary scale in respect of temporary teaching service. Teachers trained in European Union countries are also paid at the trained rate for up to five years pending attainment of the necessary competence in Irish, while teachers trained outside the European Union whose qualifications are accepted by my Department are granted the same provisional recognition as European Union trained teachers.
Furthermore, those who successfully complete the three year Montessori course in St. Nicholas, Dún Laoghaire, that is recognised by the NCEA, and those who attain the Montessori qualification on completion of the three year full-time course in the AMI College are recognised as fully qualified for substitute teaching. Such teachers are also fully recognised for teaching service in certain categories of special schools and classes where Irish is not a requirement on the curriculum. Fully qualified teachers trained outside the State are also fully recognised to teach in these categories of schools and classes.
My Department's inspectorate has not focused specifically on evaluating the educational achievements of pupils taught by unqualified teachers and unqualified substitute teachers as such. However, in circumstances where an inspector is conducting a school inspection, all classes are inspected. The school report refers to the achievements of pupils in all classes throughout the entire school. However, it does not refer to individual classes or teachers, although it may make comments about achievements at a particular level.
I am confident the measures outlined above are contributing significantly to an improvement in the supply of trained primary teachers. I am committed to ensuring the existing shortage of qualified teachers will be eliminated within the next two to three years.
