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Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021

Wednesday, 31 March 2021

Questions (635)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

635. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the approved intake number for the professional masters of education in each year that data is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17416/21]

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Written answers

Changes to the duration and content of all initial teacher education programmes were made in response to recommendations in the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011-2020 and were incorporated into the Teaching Council’s Policy Paper on the Continuum of Teacher Education and Criteria and Guidelines for Programme Providers.

Improvements which have been made to initial teacher education programmes include the reconfiguration of the content and duration of courses. Initial teacher education courses for primary teachers moved to a four year degree from 2012 and post graduate programmes for primary and post primary moved to a two year Masters from September 2014 thereby facilitating an innovative reconceptualisation of programmes.

I wish to advise the Deputy that as Minister for Education, I have responsibility for approving the continuation of the two-year Primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Professional Master of Education (PME) programme in the four State-funded primary Higher Education Institutions (HEs) and setting the annual intake on this programme having regard to teacher supply and demand issues, and available resources. However, I have no similar role in setting the number of students admitted to the Post Primary Programmes of Initial Teacher Education. This is a matter for individual Higher Education Institutes.

The total approved annual intake on the primary PME in the 4 state funded HEIs was 330 places in its first year of inception (2014) and 200 places in each academic year thereafter. The increased intake in 2014 was approved as an exceptional measure to ensure sufficient supply of teachers.

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