John Bruton
Ceist:816 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of days taught by untrained teachers in primary schools in County Meath in the first six months of 1998 and 1999. [17401/99]
Written Answers. - Untrained Teachers.
The information requested by the Deputy for the first six months of 1998 and 1999 is as follows:
|
Year |
No. of days in which temporary untrainedteachers were employed |
No. of days in which untrained substituteteachers were employed |
|
1998 |
1,041 |
2,425 |
|
1999 |
1,162 |
2,422 |
Since coming into office, I have been concerned at the large number of untrained personnel working within the primary school system. While I acknowledge that many of these persons have made a contribution to the primary educational system, there is a need to ensure that as far as possible only qualified personnel are employed to perform substitute or temporary teaching.
For these reasons, I have introduced a range of measures which are designed to boost substantially the supply of trained teachers. Specifically, I have ensured that there are over 1,000 places available in the colleges of education. This includes 730 students who will pursue the three year B.Ed degree programme while 280 degree holders have been admitted to an 18 month full time post graduate course.
Additionally, B.Ed graduates of St. Mary's College, Belfast who have studied Irish to honours level as an academic subject as part of their teaching qualification will be recognised as fully trained.
In addition, from 1 September 1998 all primary degree holders who also hold the Higher Diploma in Education are recognised as fully trained for the purposes of providing substitution service. Secondly, Montessori trained teachers who successfully completed the course of three years duration at St. Nicholas, Dun Laoghaire, and which is recognised by the National Council for Educational Awards, can from 1 September, 1998, be granted recognition as fully trained substitutes provided that they have Irish to grade C at higher level leaving certificate or its equivalent.
With effect from 1 September 1999, all primary degree holders who also hold the higher diploma in education are be recognised as fully trained for the purposes of providing temporary service provided that they hold Irish to grade C at higher level leaving certificate or its equivalent.