asked the Minister for Education the number of career guidance teachers under ex-quota for the current school year 1983-1984.
Written Answers. - Career Guidance Teachers.
434.
In the present schools year there are 182 ex-quota guidance teachers in secondary, community and comprehensive schools. In addition there are 216 guidance teachers in excess of quota in those schools.
Specific provision was made in the teaching staff allocations to vocational education committees for the 1983-84 session for guidance services in vocational schools. The allocation in respect of guidance teaching, as in the case of other teachers, is to the individual committee's scheme and it is the responsibility of the committee to apportion the service of guidance teachers to the schools as appropriate. A total of 138 guidance posts were included in the 1983-84 allocations to the committees.
435.
asked the Minister for Education if she considers that students in smaller schools (less than 500 pupils) are being victimised as they no longer receive a special information service regarding job opportunities nor have they the services of a career guidance teacher since the Government's economies have withdrawn the services of 44 career guidance teachers who were returned to quota in 1983-1984.
Guidance teachers employed in schools of fewer than 500 pupils in accordance with the provisions of Circular M.31/83 may be paid incremental salary within the quota of the school. Circular M.31/83 requires, inter alia, that the teacher's time-table arrangements shall include at least eight hours of guidance work and at least three hours of ordinary classroom teaching per week.