Vol. 560 No. 1
432 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals he has in regard to the full recognition of the qualifications of secondary teachers from the UK if they take up teaching positions here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1660/03]
The Registration Council is the statutory body responsible for the recognition of qualifications for the purposes of teaching in voluntary secondary schools. Each applicant for registration as a secondary school teacher must, among other things, hold a third level degree which must be adequate to enable the holder to teach at least one of the approved subjects or areas of study approved for the purposes of a course of instruction prescribed in the rules and programme for secondary schools and a training in teaching qualification acceptable to the council and which is directed towards those between 12 and 18 years.
Qualifications obtained through third level colleges in the UK do not have general recognition in this country for the purposes of teaching in a secondary school. It is a matter for college authorities to seek recognition for the third level courses they provide. Procedures are in place in my Department to facilitate any such request from a recognised third level institution here or abroad. The only college from the United Kingdom which has sought and received recognition of certain of its qualifications is St. Mary's College for Physical Education, Strawberry Hill, London. Any teacher who holds a qualification obtained in the UK may apply, as an individual, to the Registration Council to have the qualification recognised for the purposes of registration as a secondary school teacher. Applications should be directed to the secretariat of the Registration Council which is located in my Department's offices in Athlone.
