Vol. 495 No. 7
719 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the postgraduate certificate in primary education in Ireland entails 18 months' study, whereas this qualification is available after one year's study in Britain and Northern Ireland; if there is scope for review of this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21438/98]
741 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the postgraduate certificate in primary education entails 18 months' study, whereas this qualification is available after one year's study in Britain and Northern Ireland; if there is any scope for review of this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21752/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 719 and 741 together.
The graduate diploma in education (primary teaching) is a full-time course of 18 months duration. It is designed to enable students having graduate status to train as primary teachers. The content of this course is designed to provide students with the professional and academic foundation for teaching at primary level. It seeks to equip students with the competence to teach at all levels of the primary school and students are required to have a mastery and competence in all the curricular areas of the primary school.
The status of the graduate diploma must be equivalent to that of the bachelor of education degree. It involves 16 weeks' teaching practice in primary schools. In addition, in order to equip students to teach in schools where competence in Irish is required, all students must study professional Irish. As schools in Ireland are predominantly denominational, students also complete a course leading to the certificate in religious studies. These latter requirements are not necessary in Britain or in Northern Ireland.
