asked the Minister for Education if he will ensure that full recognition will be given in respect of the diploma course in art submitted by Galway Regional Technical College.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Art Diploma Course.
40.
Mr. R. Burke
The diploma course in arts has been submitted by Galway Regional Technical College to the National Council of Educational Awards and is at present being considered by a panel of assessors set up by the council.
Can the Minister give any assurance to the third-year students who are pursuing this art course at the regional college that their studies in the college will be rewarded with a diploma if they are successfully completed? Can he give an assurance that it will not be necessary for them to undertake a course in Dublin or Belfast in order to acquire a diploma?
Mr. R. Burke
I am advised the third-year students are not at issue——
I am sorry, it is the second-year students.
Mr. R. Burke
The option for second-year students is similar to that for the third-year students. The matter is before the NCEA.
What is the option for them?
Mr. R. Burke
The option is that by having certain groupings in the examination in art of the Department of Education and by successfully pursuing a course in the principles of the teaching of art they may qualify for the Department's art teacher's certificate, which qualifies the holder for employment as a teacher of art in second-level schools.
Is the Minister aware that the course as structured in the Galway Regional Technical College has a two-year foundation course?
Mr. R. Burke
I am so aware.
Is the Minister aware that this submission was made in May, 1974, to the NCEA?
Mr. R. Burke
Yes.
There are only a few weeks left for the second-year students to know what their future may be and, in view of this, can the Minister state when the NCEA will deliver judgment on the course as submitted to them?
Mr. R. Burke
The RTC in Galway recently had a visit from representatives of the panel of assessors set up by the NCEA to validate the two-year foundation course being offered there. These representatives made a preliminary assessment of this foundation course and the NCEA hope to have a decision in this regard in the next few months.
I am sure the Minister will appreciate this is a very important matter in view of the short time available. Can he tell us if a decision will be made in this academic year?
Mr. R. Burke
If the matter rested with me perhaps I could give an assurance. All I can offer the Deputy is to bring his representations to the attention of the NCEA.
Is the Minister aware that if the situation arises that the diploma is not given recognition by the National Council for Educational Awards, those students will be late to make application to the Belfast college where the closing date is the 31st March and for the Dublin college the closing date for application for next year is 21st April? Would the Minister give some assurance to those students that their interests will be looked after by the Department of Education if such a situation arises?
Mr. R. Burke
I will keep an eye on the situation but I do not want to involve myself in giving promises which I cannot fulfil.
There are no places anyway: only 86 in the college.