asked the Minister for Education the qualifications which are necessary for appointments to teaching positions in secondary schools, community/comprehensive schools, vocational schools and community colleges.
Written Answers. - Teaching Qualifications.
105.
The position with regard to each type of second-level school listed by the Deputy is as follows:
Secondary — The conditions and qualifications relating to registration as a secondary teacher are prescribed by the Registration Council. The council is a statutorily constituted body which includes representatives of the Universities, School Management and teacher organisations in its membership. The council prescribes that an applicant for registration as a secondary teacher must, inter alia, comply with the following conditions: (a) hold a degree and training in teaching qualification acceptable to the Council; or (b) hold an acceptable qualification in one of the subjects art, home economics, physical education, religious education, woodwork, metal-work or music.
At present a bachelor degree of an Irish or a British university is an acceptable qualification in fulfilling the degree requirement and the higher diploma in education of an Irish university automatically fulfils the teacher training requirement of condition (a) above. These qualifications merit open registration. Certain qualifications which are automatically acceptable under (b) above confine the holder to teaching the subject of his/her qualification.
In general, applicants holding qualifications obtained outside of this State are assessed by the Registration Council on an individual basis and if the qualifications appear to the council to be equivalent to a primary degree and H. Dip. from an Irish university it may, by resolution and with my approval, accept them for registration purposes.
The other main requirements for registration are; the completion of one year of satisfactory teaching experience in accordance with the council's regulations and establishment of a proficiency in oral Irish.
Community and Comprehensive — The minimum standard of qualifications required for appointment in a community and comprehensive school are as follows: (i) a relevant primary degree i.e., the subject in the title of the post must be taken in the final degree examination of a recognised degree awarding authority; and the higher diploma in education of an Irish university or an approved equivalent qualification; (ii) an acceptable qualification in Irish.
Vocational Schools and Community Colleges — In general, the qualifications required for appointment as a teacher in second-level vocational schools and community colleges are: (i) the degree of a recognised degree awarding authority with at least one subject on the school curriculum taken in the final degree examination or an equivalent qualification; and (ii) An ceard teastas Gaeilge or equivalent qualification. An ceard teastas Gaeilge is a certificate of a person's competency to teach through Irish.