asked the Minister for Education the number of students who qualified for the Higher Diploma in Education award in 1974; and the number of new teachers with this qualification appointed to secondary schools at the beginning of the 1974-75 school year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Higher Diploma in Education.
42.
Mr. R. Burke
According to the latest information available from the universities 1,715 graduates were conferred with Higher Diploma in Education in 1974. This number includes teachers already serving in primary and secondary schools.
Six hundred and eighty-six new teachers with the Higher Diploma in Education have been appointed to posts in secondary schools, other than secondary schools conducted by vocational education committees, as from the commencement of the school year 1974-75. Information is not to hand in regard to the VEC schools.
The Minister is aware that I raised this matter on a number of occasions previously. Would he agree it is essential that students should be alerted to the actual situation in relation to prospects of employment for those who do the higher diploma in education?
Mr. R. Burke
I think it would be desirable that people's attention should be drawn to this but then the universities are autonomous bodies and I have no function in regard to the admission of graduates to the higher diploma course. Perhaps it is something which could be drawn to the attention of the university authorities to be impressed on students applying for admission to those courses.
Would the Minister agree that it might be a useful exercise to ask the authorities in the secondary and vocational schools to bring to the notice of the students there the number who got the higher diploma this year and the number who got positions?
Mr. R. Burke
I think it would be useful if career guidance teachers were to take up the suggestion made by the Deputy.