Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
173. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if the MA academic allowance replaces the primary degree allowance as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18460/24]
View answerThe Professional Master of Education (PME) is a two-year, full-time Level 9 postgraduate professional teacher education programme designed to qualify graduates as primary & post-primary teachers.
Changes to the duration and content of 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 accreditation standards.
What had been the ‘H-Dip’ of 18 months at primary and 1 year at post-primary became the two-year Professional Master of Education for both. The standards were arrived at following extensive research and consultation with regard to the programme that would be required in order to develop the skills, knowledge, understanding, and professional values expected of newly qualified teachers.
The reforms were focused on improving the quality of teaching and learning in schools, which is central to the educational outcomes of children. The extended duration allowed for substantial periods of school placement and a number of mandatory elements in all programmes including literacy and numeracy and ICT in teaching and learning.
These standards were recently updated by the Council in Céim (2020) which reaffirms that post-graduate ITE programmes shall be a minimum of two years’ duration.
In order for consideration to be given to a teacher's eligibility to be paid for a Masters degree allowance the teacher must have submitted an application on the relevant application form in accordance with the relevant Department circular.
The position in relation to this teachers query regarding her entitlement to an additional qualification allowance is as advised to her previously that my Department is not accepting applications made after the 30th April 2022 deadline.
The date of the deadline was notified to all teachers in Circular 0063/2021 on 14th December 2021. Notification of the deadline was also posted on the Department’s On-Line Claims System (OLCS), on the Department’s Twitter page and the teacher unions were advised to put this deadline on their websites.
Paragraph 1.5 of Circular 0063/2021 states: “Please ensure this Circular is circulated to all members of Boards of Management/Education and Training Boards and its contents are brought to the attention of all teachers in your employment, including those on leave of absence. This circular can be accessed on the gov.ie website.”
Paragraph 3.1 of the circular states "All teachers are urged to check their salary to ensure that they are being paid the appropriate allowances. It is the responsibility of a teacher to ensure they are receiving the correct allowances".
Paragraph 5.2 of the circular states: “Any late application received by the Department/ETB after 30th April 2022 will not be processed and will be returned to the sender. There will be no exceptions to this provision.”
This level of notice to teachers is considered sufficient for the deadline and therefore my Department is not in a position to extend the deadline.
