Jim Higgins
Ceist:260 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to recognise Montessori teachers for appointment and salary purposes. [16712/98]
Written Answers. - Teaching Qualifications.
Irish primary school teachers are class teachers as distinct from individual subject teachers and must therefore be qualified to teach all aspects of the curriculum. Therefore, all teachers seeking recognition must achieve a standard of competence in the Irish language. This competence can be achieved by undergoing and passing the Irish qualifications examination "An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge", both written and oral, or its equivalent.
Teachers with the Montessori qualification which is awarded on completion of the three year full time course in the Association Montessori Internationale College in Milltown, Dublin are, however, recognised by my Department as qualified to teach in special schools for the mentally handicapped, the emotionally disturbed, and the hearing impaired.
In addition, the recent National Forum on Early Childhood Education considered all aspects of this issue, including the Montessori method. An independent report on the forum is being prepared by the Independent Secretariat and will be published under the authority of the secretary general to the forum. This report will be an important document, and will form an important input into a White Paper on early childhood education which I intend to publish later this year.
It would not be appropriate for me to pre-empt the outcome of this process by commenting at this stage on possible future roles for Montessori teachers.