Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2004
182 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of hours of physical education training provided to persons training to become primary teachers; if the same amount of tuition is provided on all courses, including private and on-line courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21147/04]
View answerPhysical education is included in the programme of pre-service education for all teachers in each college of education. A number of teachers also take additional elective courses in various aspects of physical education, such as aquatics and games. All college of education graduates are therefore fully qualified to teach the physical education curriculum in primary schools.
The Deputy should however address the question of the number of hours spent on physical education in pre-service education to the management authorities of the colleges in question. It is the management authorities of the individual colleges of education who are responsible for the delivery of physical education programmes to students.
The position on the on-line course provided by the Hibernia College is that it is a privately run course. It has been accredited by the higher education and training awards council, HETAC, and, subject to adherence by Hibernia College to the conditions set out in the HETAC certificate and to any further conditions set by HETAC, will be recognised by my Department for the purposes of primary teaching. I have no role with regard to the specific elements of this course.
