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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 May 1989

Vol. 390 No. 2

Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Physical Education.

19.

asked the Minister for Education if she intends to increase the number of hours devoted to physical education in the teacher training colleges.

The number of hours devoted to any one subject in the colleges of education for primary teachers is a matter, in the first instance, for the colleges and universities which validate their degrees. However, when deciding the time allocated to each subject account must be taken of the conflicting demands on an already full time-table, and the limits to the overall time available.

There are no general plans to increase the number of hours devoted to physical education in the training colleges pending the outcome of the review of the primary curriculum which will be published later this year. The review body is expected to finish its work later this year.

Surely the Minister is aware that there is a complete lack of physical education at primary level and that some alteration in the curriculum in the teacher training colleges would have the desired result of increasing the number of hours devoted to physical education from nil to even one?

The question asked if I intend to increase the number of hours devoted to physical education in the teacher training colleges. The devising of the agenda or work within colleges of education is something in the first instance for the colleges and the universities which validate their degrees. I am sure that the managers of these colleges take cognisance of all the needs of their students. I understand that the Physical Education Society of Teachers in Ireland have made a formal written submission to the Primary Curriculum Review Body and I am sure their concerns have been noted and will perhaps be expressed in the findings of the review committee.

I am not satisfied. Will the Minister impress on the people in charge her desire to see physical education hours increased? In the free world, whether in Japan which is so popular with the present Government or in the US, there is physical education at primary level.

I am not really aware of how much time is spent on physical education in Japanese schools, but I accept what the Deputy says. The colleges of education have experienced principals and experienced staff to carry out their objectives. Were I to issue diktats of that kind Deputy Carey would be the first to say that I was interfering. The primary review which I have set up is a channel through which people whose needs are not being met in relation to curriculum matters, can make submissions. In an indirect way, when the review body issue their findings to me, I will have a chance to do something about what they say.

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