Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020
406. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education if those who are studying in the UK for a postgraduate certificate in education but have not yet completed the course have any option of returning to Ireland and completing their qualifications here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39922/20]
View answerThe Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. Any potential applicants transferring in to an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programme must meet the registration requirements following completion of their programme to ensure that standards of entry to the profession are maintained. Registration with the Council is necessary in order to be recognised as a teacher for employment in a state funded teaching post.
At the outset, I wish to point out that it is solely a matter for the relevant Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to assess and make a decision on whether applicants wishing to transfer in to any of their programmes meet the entry requirements for that programme and are eligible for transfer.
ITE programmes for primary and post primary teachers are facilitated through a range of concurrent (undergraduate) and consecutive (postgraduate) programmes. Any potential applicants to these programmes must meet the entry requirements for their preferred programme, which varies depending on whether it is for primary or Post-Primary teaching.
I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to an individual wishing to transfer in to a post-graduate ITE programme.
The primary postgraduate programme is a two year course leading to a Professional Master of Education (PME). Applicants for this programme must hold a Minimum H2.2 Honours Bachelor Degree (Level 8). Entrants to this programme must also meet the required Minimum Entry Requirements (MERs) in Irish, English and Mathematics in the relevant year.
The post primary postgraduate programme is a two year course leading to a PME. It is a requirement of the Teaching Council that applicants for this programme must hold a Level 8 Degree in at least one post-primary curricular subject in order to be considered for registration as a teacher, upon completion of the PME. The Teaching Council set the requirements for qualifying subjects. The Postgraduate Application Centre (PAC) manages the application process for the PME for a number of the programme providers.
