asked the Minister for Education if he will state, with reference to the Irish certificate examinations for teachers in Primary Schools, the number examined, and the number passed in each of the years 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925 and 1926, in respect of (a) ordinary certificate, (b) Bi-Lingual, (c) Ard Teastas, and (d) Ard Teastas (Honours).
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - IRISH CERTIFICATE EXAMS.
Particulars as to the number of persons examined and the number who passed at the examinations in Irish conducted by the Department in connection with the special courses in Irish for national teachers held from 1922 to 1926 (inclusive) are as follows:—
|
Year. |
Ordinary Certificate. |
Bilingual Certificate. |
Ard Teastas. |
|||
|
No. |
No. |
No. |
No. |
No. |
No. |
|
|
Examined. |
Passed. |
Examined. |
Passed. |
Examined. |
Passed. |
|
|
1922 |
2886 |
797 |
— |
505 |
— |
— |
|
1923 |
3152 |
1194 |
2075 |
669 |
987 |
194 |
|
1924 |
3297 |
774 |
1883 |
371 |
1307 |
220 |
|
1925 |
4166 |
1210 |
2068 |
479 |
1450 |
280 |
|
1926 |
2555 |
586 |
1513 |
263 |
473 |
144 |
Of 261 students holding the Ard Teastas who submitted theses for the Ard Teastas le Onóracha, 44 have been declared to have fulfilled the necessary conditions.
It will be seen that the figures given above represent the persons, national teachers, unemployed teachers, etc., who presented themselves for examination in successive years and who obtained certificates in each of these years.
A number of national teachers who had obtained certificates under the late Administration presented themselves again for similar certificates. Certain teachers who presented themselves for a particular certificate in one year and who did not obtain that certificate, presented themselves for examination in the following years and are included in the figures of those presenting themselves for examination in those later years.
A large number of teachers who obtained the ordinary certificate in certain years presented themselves for a higher certificate, Bi-lingual or Ard Teastas, in later years.
In 1922 the Ordinary Certificate and the Bi-lingual Certificate were awarded on the same paper, a higher standard being required for the Bi-lingual Certificate.
The total number examined in that year for Ordinary and Bi-lingual Certificates was 2886.
The examination for the Ard Teastas was not instituted until 1923.
In addition to the figures given above there are a number of students who obtained the Ordinary or Bi-lingual Certificate at the final examination in the Training Colleges and who did not find it necessary to present themselves for a similar examination at the Irish courses.
It is estimated that out of approximately 14,000 teachers in the service, including members of Religious Communities, approximately one-half, or about 7,000, possess the certificate to teach Irish or a higher qualification. About 800 of these have secured the highest certificate available, the Ard Teastas, while of the remainder about 2,500 are registered as qualified to teach other subjects of the curriculum through the medium of Irish.
It is to be noted that of those teachers who are without any certificate, somewhat above 2,500 are over 45 years of age.