asked the Minister for Education whether his Department intend to recognise as valid for the reckoning of incremental service, the years of teaching experience undergone by Irish teachers abroad; whether he is aware that at present a fully qualified teacher who may have spent an extended period teaching in an undeveloped country does not qualify on his return home for any recognition of his teaching experience; and what steps he intends to take to remedy this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Recognition of Teaching Service Abroad.
62.
Schemes have been in operation since 1961 whereby lay teachers are given incremental credit for recognised teaching services in underdeveloped countries.
Would the Minister say why he resisted giving similar recognition for teaching done by members of religious orders in underdeveloped countries?
I introduced this. The purpose was to tempt people to go to underdeveloped countries, and religious orders are going anyway.
So the religious teachers are not to get any recognition at all because they do it for better motives than filthy lucre?
There is an obvious difference.
It is most unjust.