Vol. 563 No. 1
300 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if persons with the post-graduate certificate of education from either the University of Ulster, South Bank University, London, or the University of Middlesex, London, are qualified as recognised primary teachers here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6957/03]
Primary teachers trained in the universities mentioned would be required to submit their qualifications for assessment by the Department. Teachers with a post-graduate certificate in primary education obtained outside the jurisdiction of the State, may be granted provisional recognition as primary teachers. The post-graduate certificate in education would have to be in respect of teaching at primary level. Teachers holding a post-graduate certificate in education at second level may only be considered for full recognition as second level teachers.
Primary teachers trained outside the jurisdiction of the State, whose teaching qualifications have been assessed and accepted by my Department but who do not possess an appropriate Irish language qualification are granted a five year period of provisional recognition to teach in mainstream classes in national schools. Accordingly, applicants must satisfy the Department of Education and Science that they are competent to teach the Irish language and to teach the range of primary school curricular subjects through the medium of Irish, before being granted full recognition to teach in mainstream classes in national schools. During this period of provisional recognition, these teachers are remunerated in the same manner as fully qualified teachers and are required to work towards achieving the Irish language qualification.
301 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Question No. 124 of 28 November 2002, the position regarding the registration as a secondary teacher of the person involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6958/03]
The application submitted by the person referred to by the Deputy for the recognition of qualifications for the purposes of registration as a secondary school teacher has been considered in full by the Registration Council. The qualifications submitted by this applicant were recognised, for the purpose of teaching English at second level, on 4 March 2003 and formal notification of this decision issued to the applicant on that date.
