Written Answers. - School Staffing.
Michael Creed
Ceist:
1099
Mr. Creed
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the way in which additional teachers at primary and post primary levels, as provided for in the recent budget, will be deployed; when schools will be notified of these appointments; and if he has satisfied himself that there are sufficient numbers of qualified teachers available to fill these posts.
[1088/02]
I am currently considering proposals for the allocation of the teaching posts at primary and post-primary levels granted under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness for the 2002-03 school year. The managerial authorities and the teacher unions will be advised of the position regarding the allocation of posts in the near future.
The intake of undergraduates to primary teacher training colleges has been doubled from 500 in 1996-97 to 1,000 in the current academic year. The intake to the undergraduate training course for primary teachers will continue at the current level of 1,000 for the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 academic years. In addition there are 280 students on an existing postgraduate course. A further postgraduate course with 440 places will commence in January-February this year. This brings to 1,382 the number of places made available on primary teaching postgraduate courses by the present Government. I have also introduced further measures to increase the number of trained personnel in primary schools. B.Ed graduates of St. Mary's College, Belfast who have studied Irish to honours level as an academic sub ject as part of their teaching qualification are now recognised as fully qualified.
Primary teachers trained in EU countries employed in primary schools are now remunerated at the trained rate pending their obtaining the necessary competence in the Irish language. EU trained teachers now have up to five years to obtain the necessary competence in the language. In addition, for the period of two years from 1 September 2000, teachers trained outside the EU whose qualifications are accepted by my Department will be granted provisional recognition for five years on the same basis as EU trained teachers.
Montessori trained teachers who successfully completed the full-time course of three years duration at St. Nicholas', Dun Laoghaire, which is recognised by the National Council for Educational Awards, or the Montessori qualification which is awarded on completion of the three year full time course in the AMI College, are recognised as being fully qualified substitute teachers and are recognised to teach in certain categories of special schools and classes.
The decision to recognise fully qualified teachers who trained outside the State to teach in certain categories of schools and classes without the necessity to hold an Irish language qualification is also contributing to an improvement in the supply of trained primary teachers.
The teacher supply and demand issue at second level is very complex. Analyses undertaken by my Department in 1997 indicated that there are regional and subject variations. Schools in certain locations have more difficulties in recruitment while specific subjects may pose particular difficulties. A further complicating factor is that vacancies in second level schools usually require specific subject combinations. The total number of places on the higher diploma in education course has increased by 25% since 1997-98, to 1,000 places currently. My Department is continuing to review the supply and demand for second-level teachers on an ongoing basis.
