asked the Minister for Education the number of staff employed in her Department (a) at present and (b) ten years ago in (i) the primary inspectorate and (ii) the post-primary inspectorate; and if she will outline the duties and responsibilities of the inspectorate in each case.
Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.
351.
The numbers employed in the primary and post-primary inspectorates in 1979 and 1989 are:
|
1979 |
1989 |
|
|
Primary Inspectorate |
88 |
85 |
|
Post-Primary Inspectorate |
72 |
61 |
The principal functions of the primary inspectorate are:
(a) to provide the Minister with the information and advice he/she may require on matters pertaining to individual schools and on educational matters in general;
(b) to co-operate with management authorities and teachers in the work of the schools, especially by stimulating interest in curriculum content and methodology and by assisting teachers in need of guidance.
In addition to the foregoing, the main responsibility of the post-primary inspectorate is the setting and marking of the certificate examinations.