Vol. 496 No. 3
454 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide recognition of the AMI diploma and special education diploma for posts as remedial teacher, assistant teacher and teacher for special classes in the primary sector and, in particular, in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [22896/98]
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. For this reason, 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 exam "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 (AMI) College, Mount St. Mary's, Milltown, Dublin 14 are, however, recognised by my Department as qualified to teach in special schools for the mentally handicapped, the emotionally disturbed and the hearing impaired.
Officials within my Department are currently examining correspondence received from the person referred to by the Deputy and a response to that correspondence will be issuing shortly.
