Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Apr 2000

Vol. 518 No. 4

Written Answers. - Teaching Qualifications.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

53 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps which will be taken to ensure that all teachers have appropriate preservice and in-service training to develop the potential of pupils with special needs. [11821/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

The existing full-time programmes of pre-service teacher training in the colleges of education contain appropriate elements to assist the student teachers in recognising and dealing with children with special needs.

Students undertaking the Bachelor of Education Degree or the Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching) in St. Patrick's and Mary Immaculate Colleges of Education now follow a course module on special education. This module covers the broad range of issues in special education.

In the Church of Ireland and Coláiste Mhuire, Marino, colleges of education, particular attention is paid to special needs and learning difficulties arising from various factors under method studies in English and mathematics. In the case of the Froebel College of Education, students have a course module under remedial work. This deals with learning difficulties arising from special needs.

At second level, there are inputs to the higher diploma in education, as part of a general alertness orientation programme, on a variety of learning difficulties which pupils may have.

Review groups were set up in 1999 to examine pre-service teacher education programmes for primary and post-primary teachers. The group for each area is required to have regard to developments in relation to catering for children with special needs. The reports of both groups are due to be completed later this year.

A substantial range of in-service courses is provided for teachers involved in remedial and special education who educate pupils with special needs.

Since 1994, there has been a national programme of training in the remedial area for serving teachers at primary and post-primary levels. Under this programme teachers attend postgraduate diploma courses in the following institutions: St Patrick's College of Education, Dublin (DCU), Church of Ireland College of Education, Dublin, National University of Ireland, Cork, National University of Ireland, Galway, Mary Immaculate College of Education, Limerick (UL), and St Angela's College of Education, Sligo – outreach from Mary Immaculate College.

The number of graduates from these courses over the two years 1998 and 1999 was 148 and 158 respectively. For the year 1999-2000, 172 applicants were given places on the courses.

Many shorter courses for teachers in the remedial and special education areas are financially supported by my Department. These are provided mainly through the network of education centres, teachers' organisations and the programme of summer courses for primary teachers.

The provision of training and support for serving teachers of pupils with special educational needs at both primary and post-primary levels is at present under active consideration in my Department. Further in-service will be provided to meet identified additional requirements in the area in question.