17 Jul 2012, 15:30
The Committee on Education and Social Protection meets tomorrow with representatives from the Teaching Council and student teachers to discuss reform in teacher education.
Earlier this year, Education Minister Ruairí Quinn TD ordered a detailed review of teacher education.
The Teaching Council is the statutory body charged with responsibility for maintaining and enhancing the quality of teaching in our classrooms at primary, post-primary and further education level.
A group of student teachers will call for steps to be taken to minimise the impact of cuts on new entrants to the teaching profession
Committee Chair Joanna Tuffy TD says: “Our Committee looks forward to engaging with two distinct voices tomorrow on reform of teacher education. The calibre of teachers we are producing will have a direct impact on economic recovery in the medium to long term.
“The review into teacher education announced by Minister Quinn is focussed on streamlining the number of courses and the content of teacher-training programmes. Tomorrow’s engagement with those with first-hand experience of current teacher training practices provides the Committee with a valuable opportunity to examine the steps towards sustaining quality teacher training programmes in a cost-effective manner.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 18 July at 10 a.m. in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000.
Committee proceedings can be viewed online via this link.
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies:
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Ray Butler, Sinn Féin
Áine Collins, Fine Gael
Joan Collins, People Before Profit
Barry Cowen, Fianna Fáil
Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin
Clare Daly, Socialist Party
Simon Harris, Fine Gael
Nicky McFadden, Fine Gael
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Labour Party (Vice-Chair)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin
Brendan Ryan, Labour Party
Brendan Smith, Fianna Fáil
Joanna Tuffy, Labour Party (Chair)
Senators:
Jim D’Arcy
Fidelma Healy Eames
Marie Moloney
Marie Louise O’Donnell
Averil Power
Diarmuid Wilson