Alan Farrell
Question:419. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the efforts that are being made to diversify the teaching population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6164/22]
View answerTuesday, 8 February 2022
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The third National Access Plan (NAP) for Equity of Access to Higher Education (2015 – 2019; extended to 2021 following a review) was launched in December 2015 to ensure that the student body entering into, participating in and completing higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland's population.
The Plan identifies the target groups that are currently being under-represented in Higher Education, which includes entrants from socio-economic groups that have low participation in higher education, Irish Travellers, Students with disabilities, first time, mature student entrants, Part-time/flexible learners and further education award holders.
PATH 1 is a strand of the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Funds and supports the objective in the National Access Plan to increase access to initial teacher education (ITE) for students from under-represented groups entering ITE and thereby provide more role models for students from these groups identified in the National Access Plan. The programme promotes a range of new initiatives and partnerships and supports centres to work more closely with DEIS schools, community groups and Further Education and Training providers to promote entry to teacher education. It is expected that these activities will support over 360 new students from under-represented groups to participate in initial teacher education programmes. In April 2020, it was announced that PATH 1 would continue for a further three years into 2023 with a funding envelope of €5.4m over a 6 year period.
The current National Access Plan 2015 - 2021 finished at the end of 2021. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science along with the Higher Education Authority are currently working on implementing the new Plan which will span over 5 years from 2022 – 2026. It is intended to have the new Plan published in early 2022.
Officials in my Department work closely with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Higher Education Authority to support this objective.
The Teaching Transforms campaign aims to promote the teaching profession and encourage students from groups under-represented in the profession to apply for initial teacher education programmes. The most recent campaign phase, which coincided with the lead in to the CAO Change of Mind closing date, communicated the need and scope for diversity in the teaching profession
In addition, the Migrant Teacher Project (MTP), based in Marino Institute of Education (MIE), was established in 2017 to increase the participation of immigrant internationally educated teachers (IIETs) in the Irish primary and post-primary education sectors.
The project, co-funded by the Department of Education and the Department of Justice, provides information, advice and training to teachers who have qualified outside of Ireland, to help them to continue their profession in Irish primary and post-primary schools. Over 1,100 teachers from 91 countries are now registered with the project.
The MTP offers a Bridging Programme, which is delivered at no cost to the teacher with those who successfully complete the programme receiving a certificate from MIE.
The project provides information, advice and training to teachers who have qualified outside of Ireland, to help them to continue their profession in Irish primary and post-primary schools. It aims to work with immigrant teachers to support them through the process of registration with the Teaching Council and seeking employment.