asked the Minister for Education whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the standard of education obtaining amongst ex-pupils of primary schools who enter the rural technical schools, with a view to deciding whether a preliminary year of instruction in reading, writing and arichmetic is requisite for most pupils enrolling in rural technical schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Standard of Education.
I am having inquiries made as suggested by the Deputy. My information is that the standard is, on the whole, not unsatisfactory and that students entering the technical schools have received sufficient instruction in the subjects referred to to enable them to follow and profit by the technical courses.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that a case was recently brought under my notice where of 40 youths enrolled in a technical course 18 were unable to read what was written on the board or take down dictation at all, and it was found necessary to give them a preliminary year's training in reading and writing?
Where is this?
I prefer to inform the Minister in confidence of that.