asked the Minister for Education what is the number of reformatory and industrial schools and the number of teachers engaged therein; whether the curriculum in these schools corresponds with that of the national schools; and whether he proposes to take any steps to place the teachers in these schools on an equality with national school teachers in respect of salaries and superannuation.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - REFORMATORY AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.
TOMAS MAC EOIN
There are 54 industrial schools and 2 reformatory schools. The curriculum of these schools includes instruction in the subjects of the National Schools programme, in so far as the ability of the children renders this possible. As industrial training and instruction in trades are also given to the older pupils in reformatory and industrial schools the programme in the ordinary school subjects followed by classes of these pupils is not usually as extensive or advanced as in the corresponding classes of a National school.
There are no official regulations regarding the number or qualifications of the teachers who are employed by these schools; these matters are determined in each case by the manager of the school. As far as can be ascertained from official information available at present, the total number of teachers employed is 395. Of these, 191 may be taken as teachers of ordinary school subjects and the remainder as teachers of trade subjects of various kinds.
The terms and conditions of service of these teachers are a matter of arrangement between themselves and the managers of the schools, and the financial contribution made by the State to the schools in the form of capitation grant is intended to provide for the cost of the education as well as the maintenance of the children.
Has the Minister any jurisdiction over the result of the education on the children in the same way as he has in respect of a National school? Does he examine and test the quality of these schools?
There are inspections.
Is the Minister satisfied with the position of the teachers in these schools, who have to get satisfactory results and yet are not put on a level position with teachers in the ordinary schools?
These schools are contributed to, not merely by the State, but also by the local authorities. In fact, in the Act under which contributions are given the primary responsibility is thrown, not on the State, but on the local authority, and yet at the present time the contribution by the State is higher than that by the local authorities. It is not merely a State matter, but also a question for the local authorities.
Is the Minister assuming that the local authority has any direct competence in the matter of curriculum and results?
I understood that the Deputy was raising the question of the salaries of the teachers.