asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the recent report that 50 per cent Higher Diploma Education graduates did not find employment in the past year and on the suggestion that the universities are producing too many teachers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment for Teacher Graduates.
18.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the report "The Pattern of Graduate Employment 1978" published by the Association of Irish University Careers and Appointments Services.
This report does not state that 50 per cent of Higher Diploma in Education graduates in the last year did not find employment. The report shows that on 31 January 1979, only 102 out of 1,334 (7.7 per cent) who qualified for the Higher Diploma in Education in 1978, and who responded to the survey, were still seeking employment.
It is clearly indicated in The Irish Times report the Minister refers to that there is a high level of unemployment among H.Dip. holders. In the context of his educational policy and the broadening of the teacher-pupil ratio, would the Minister comment on the reasons for the high level of unemployment among them?
If the Deputy had listened to my answer——
I did listen.
——he would have heard that there is not a high level. Any level is too high but the relevant figure is 7.7 per cent.
Perhaps the others have emigrated.
That is not true as a careful reading of the report will show.