Vol. 563 No. 4
301 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if progress has been made in negotiations between him and the teacher train ing colleges to provide post-graduate teacher training courses on a modular basis. [7826/03]
The courses run in the State at present that allow for appointment to a permanent post in a primary school are the bachelor of education degree and the 18 month graduate diploma in primary teaching. Both of these courses are run in the colleges of education, which specialise in the training of primary teachers.
My Department is also examining further options for addressing the teacher supply issue in consultation with relevant interests. One of the options currently under active consideration is the provision of a modular type course for secondary trained teachers. My Department will be writing to the colleges of education in the very near future seeking proposals from them for the provision of such a course.
