Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - Teaching Qualifications.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

1098 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science if there is mutual recognition of primary teaching qualifications between Ireland and the United States; and if a primary teacher who has qualifications and experience of teaching in schools in the United States is recognised and able to apply for a teaching post here. [21801/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

At primary level, teachers are class teachers rather than subject specialists and must be qualified to teach the range of primary school subjects to children aged four to 12 years. Accordingly, applicants must satisfy my Department that they are competent to teach the Irish language and to teach the range of primary school curricular subjects through the medium of Irish before being granted full recognition to teach in mainstream classes in national schools.

However, teachers trained in another member state of the European Union, whose qualifications have been assessed and accepted by my Department, but who do not possess an appropriate Irish language qualification, are granted a five year period of provisional recognition to teach in mainstream classes in national schools. During this period of provisional recognition these teachers are remunerated in the same manner as fully qualified teachers. The period of provisional recognition was extended from three to five years in order to allow such teachers adequate time to prepare for and pass the Irish language examination and also in response to the ongoing teacher supply issue at primary level.

Furthermore, teachers trained in countries outside of the European Union, including the United States of America, whose qualifications have been assessed and accepted by my Department, are now also being granted a five year period of provisional recognition to allow them to teach in mainstream classes in primary schools. This change was effected from 1 September 2000 in view of the current shortage of qualified primary teachers, and will apply until September 2002 at which stage it will be reviewed. In common with EU trained teachers, non-EU teachers will be required to work towards achieving the Irish language qualification during their period of provisional recognition. Non-EU trained teachers will be remunerated in the same manner as fully qualified teachers during their period of provisional recognition.

In addition, I have a number of changes to the Irish qualification examination aimed at assisting teachers trained outside the State to obtain the Irish language qualification. The most important of these are outlined as follows: the extension of the period of provisional recognition from three to five years – as the exam is held twice a year, candidates will have up to ten opportunities to sit the examination during their period of provisional recognition; the examination now comprises four individual modules – teachers can prepare for and sit different modules at different times and teachers who pass an individual module will be exempt from that module for a period of five years; and courses are being provided, through the education centre network, to facilitate teachers preparing for the examination.