Vol. 568 No. 1
161 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made to date with regard to reducing the level of dependence on untrained teachers or untrained substitute teachers in primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15741/03]
I fully appreciate the difficulties being experienced by many schools in the recruitment of fully qualified teachers, and accordingly a number of initiatives have been undertaken by my Department to substantially increase the supply of trained primary teachers and alleviate the current supply difficulties.
In order to improve teacher supply, the intake to the B.Ed. programme in the colleges of education has increased dramatically in recent years. Since 1999, over 1,000 students have been admitted annually to the B.Ed. programme. This represents a doubling of the number admitted to the programme in 1996.
The total intake in the 2002-03 academic year is approximately 1,350 students. This compares with an intake of 500 in 1996-97. There are currently some 3,500 students enrolled and pursuing various stages of primary teacher training programmes in the colleges of education. In addition to increasing the output of graduates, other initiatives have been introduced to increase the number of trained personnel. B.Ed. graduates of St. Mary's College, Belfast, who have studied Irish to honours level as an academic subject as part of their teaching qualifications, are now recognised as fully qualified.
Montessori trained teachers who have successfully completed the full-time course of three years duration at St. Nicholas, Dún Laoghaire, which is recognised by the National Council for Educational Awards, or the Montessori qualification which is awarded on completion of the three year full time course in the AMI College, are recognised as being fully qualified substitute teachers and are recognised to teach in certain categories of special schools, special classes and as resource teachers in primary schools. The decision to recognise fully qualified teachers who trained outside the State to teach in certain categories of schools and classes without the necessity to hold an Irish language qualification is also contributing to an improvement in the supply of trained primary teachers.
My Department is also consulting with the colleges with regard to the provision of modular type courses for secondary trained teachers with the necessary academic requirement in Irish. I reassure the Deputy that, in dealing with the issue of teacher supply, my Department will continue to consider new initiatives and keep existing initiatives under review.
