Vol. 486 No. 6
344 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide details of the employment opportunities available within the primary school system for Montessori teachers; the conditions of employment which apply in this regard; and the proposals, if any, to extend these opportunities in the future. [3464/98]
Teachers with the Montessori qualification which is awarded on completion of the three year full-time course in the Association Montessori Internationale, AMI, College, Mount St. Mary's, Milltown, Dublin 14, are recognised by my Department as qualified to teach in special schools for the mentally handicapped, the emotionally disturbed and the hearing impaired.
The conditions of employment which apply to these teachers are similar to those which apply to all other teachers in the primary school system except that, in the event of their posts being suppressed, such teachers are placed on the special national panel rather than the diocesan panels.
In addition, I recently announced the establishment of the National Forum on Early Childhood Education which will take place in Dublin Castle during the week beginning 23 March 1998. The forum will consider all aspects of early childhood education, including the Montessori method.
