Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 February 2019
74. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the changes made in relation to the basic requirements of masters students who are affected by the rise in basic requirements for access to primary teaching courses can also be applied to mature access students in third level who are now required to complete their programme and achieve the higher requirements in one academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9790/19]
View answerHaving relatively high minimum entry requirements in core subject areas of Irish, English and Mathematics is one of the key policy levers that help ensure quality teaching and learning in primary schools.
In October 2017, changes were announced setting higher minimum entry standards to primary programmes of initial teacher education for Leaving Certificate Maths, English and Irish.
In determining the revised entry requirements, care was taken not to disadvantage those students who have already commenced the senior cycle and this meant that the changes were to commence from 2019.
On 30th January, I announced the deferral of the introduction of the new minimum entry requirements in respect of students starting a primary Professional Master of Education (PME) from 2019 to 2020. This deferral applies to students who have commenced an undergraduate degree (as distinct from a Bachelor of Education degree) and are planning to apply for the (postgraduate) PME for entry in September 2019.
The new minimum entry requirements are the appropriate standard but the original timing of their introduction may have caused difficulties for some students already studying an undergraduate degree and planning on undertaking a PME as an entry route to primary teaching.
The higher minimum entry requirements, announced in October 2017, will continue to apply from September 2019 for students planning on entering the undergraduate Bachelor of Education (Primary) programme.
In summary, the minimum entry requirements required for students commencing Initial Teacher Education Programmes in 2019 and 2020 are as follows:
Entry 2019 (Professional Master of Education (PME) Route) - Irish: H5, English: H7/O5, Maths: H7/O6
Entry 2019 (Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) Route) - Irish: H4, English: H7/O4, Maths: H7/O4
Entry 2020 and beyond (PME and B. Ed. Routes) - Irish: H4, English: H7/O4, Maths: H7/O4.
