asked the Minister for Education how many extra qualified teachers will be required to teach each secondary school pupil one of the major modern languages of international communication, other than English, for at least five hours weekly; how soon he expects that position will be attained; and what steps are being taken to provide the necessary teachers in all schools.
Written Answers. - Teaching of Modern Languages.
239.
The range of subjects normally studied by leaving certificate pupils is such that there could be no question of devoting five hours per week to the teaching of a modern continental language. The normal time devoted to such teaching is three hours per week.
The number of pupils in secondary schools in the current school year is 144,542, and the number of teachers engaged in teaching modern continental languages is 1,686. This number of teachers would be more than adequate to meet the requirements stated in the question if they were to devote all their time to teaching modern continental languages.
To improve the position in regard to language teaching the Department have provided (a) a teacher exchange scheme with France, (b) a scheme whereby incremental credit is given for teaching service in continental countries, and (c) special short courses.
240.
asked the Minister for Education the number of secondary school pupils who in the last intermediate and leaving certificate examinations took papers in Latin or Greek but did not take a paper in a modern foreign language.
The numbers of secondary school pupils who took Latin or Greek and did not take a modern continental language at the last certificate examinations were: intermediate certificate, 3,436; leaving certificate, 3,820.
241.
asked the Minister for Education if, having regard to widespread disappointment at the slow rate of progress in the number of secondary schools teaching a modern foreign language to all pupils, he will provide further incentives to the teaching of modern foreign languages and disincentives to the teaching of dead classical languages; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
There is no basis for any allegation that the rate of progress in the teaching of modern foreign languages in secondary schools is slow. The numbers studying such languages has increased from 38,495 in 1960-61 to 117,243 in 1969-70.
Regarding the principle underlying the question, however, I do not feel that it would be educationally sound to provide incentives or disincentives of the type referred to by the Deputy but rather to encourage a wide choice of subjects in every school and a high standard of teaching in every subject. The choice of subjects to be studied by individual pupils is a matter for the pupils themselves, their parents and teachers.
242.
asked the Minister for Education the number of qualified secondary school teachers in (a) Latin or Greek and (b) French, German or Spanish.
The numbers of teachers in secondary schools engaged in the teaching of the subjects in question are (a) Latin or Greek—1,621, (b) French, German or Spanish—1,822. A total of 295 teachers are included under both (a) and (b) above as these teachers are teaching both Latin and a continental language.