asked the Minister for Education the number of secondary schools recognised by his Department in which a qualified full-time teacher of physical training is employed; and the number of such schools in which a qualified part-time teacher of physical training is employed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Physical Training Courses.
73.
All secondary schools are required to make provision for physical instruction or organised games. Physical instruction is being given in 358 of the 542 secondary schools. The records of my Department are not such as would enable me to furnish the Deputy with the other information which he has requested.
74.
asked the Minister for Education whether teachers of physical training in (a) secondary schools and (b) vocational schools are recognised by his Department and whether they receive incremental salaries.
Yes, where they are in full-time recognised employment.
75.
asked the Minister for Education the number of (a) national schools, (b) recognised secondary schools and (c) vocational schools in which physical training is taught (i) by qualified teachers and (ii) by unqualified teachers.
76.
asked the Minister for Education the number of (a) national schools, (b) recognised secondary schools and (c) vocational schools in which physical training is not taught.
A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 76 together.
All national teachers do a course in physical instruction as part of their training and are regarded as qualified to teach the subject in national schools. Physical instruction is an optional subject in these schools but it is taught in most of the large and many of the small schools. I have stated the position in secondary schools in the reply which I gave to the Deputy to Question No. 73.
In vocational schools, the position is similar to that in secondary schools. In 32 of the 288 vocational schools there are full-time qualified teachers. In the remainder physical instruction and/or organised games form part of the extra-curricular activities.
77.
asked the Minister for Education whether his Department has any record of the number of students qualifying to become teachers of physical training at training colleges in this country; and, if so, whether he will state (a) the number who so qualified in each of the years 1951 to 1961, inclusive, and (b) the number of those so qualified who obtained employment in this country in each of the years 1951 to 1961, inclusive.
The training colleges in this country for physical instructors are private institutions. I am, therefore, precluded from giving details of their activities. I am, however, at liberty to state that they turn out about 25 qualified instructors each year and that the vast majority of these find employment in our schools.