Written Answers. - Teacher Training.
Ceist:
1124
Dr. Upton
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if he will review the exclusion of deaf people from St. Patrick's College and other teacher training institutions due to the fact that deaf schools do not teach Irish; if he will ensure that deaf persons who meet all other academic qualifications can train to be teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1260/02]
Tony Gregory
Ceist:
1153
Mr. Gregory
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if he will address the anomaly whereby deaf people are excluded from training as teachers; if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) is not discriminated against in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1423/02]
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:
1156
Mr. O'Shea
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
his proposals to allow deaf people to train as teachers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1440/02]
Richard Bruton
Ceist:
1175
Mr. R. Bruton
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a deaf person cannot train to be a teacher of the deaf people; and if he will take steps to remove this barrier.
[1529/02]
Pádraic McCormack
Ceist:
1189
Mr. McCormack
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if his attention has been drawn to the situation of a person (details supplied) who is deaf and cannot do the teacher training course because she has not the satisfactory qualification in Irish; his plans to ease this restriction particularly in the case of deaf people; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1618/02]
Paul McGrath
Ceist:
1248
Mr. McGrath
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if he will consider the application of a person (details supplied) to attend a teacher training course at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9; his views on the fact that, due to the student's disability, she cannot be considered for a place at this college; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1954/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1124, 1153, 1156, 1175, 1189 and 1248 together.
Significant and complex issues arise in relation to access to the teaching profession by people with disabilities. I am making arrangements to establish a working group to examine and review the present arrangements in consultation with relevant interests, and having regard to best international practice in this area. I am asking the group to expedite its work and report to me at an early date.
At present, the courses run in the State that allow for appointment to a permanent post in a primary school are the three-year bachelor of education degree and the full-time 18-month graduate diploma in primary teaching. Both of these courses are run in the colleges of education, which specialise in the training of primary teachers.
The bachelor of education degree programme offered at the colleges of education is designed to equip teachers to teach the full range of subjects in the Irish primary school curriculum. Teachers who have obtained a B.Ed degree from these colleges are permitted to teach in all national schools where they are required to complete a successful probationary period leading to full recognition as a primary teacher.
During the bachelor of education programme, students must develop competencies in the full range of subjects to be taught in national schools, including Irish, and the award of the B.Ed degree signifies that the teacher involved is competent to teach all subjects on the curriculum. Consequently, the study of Irish is a core component in the B.Ed programme, and students entering colleges of education are required to have a minimum competence in this subject in their leaving certificate examination. At present there is no undergraduate course in the State specifically designed to train candidates, either hearing or deaf, to teach deaf children.
My Department will grant restricted recognition to the following categories of teachers: teachers who trained outside the State, including teachers who trained outside the EU, with a recognised primary teacher qualification for teaching the aspects of the primary school curriculum to pupils aged 4 to 12 years; 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; teachers with the national diploma or degree in humanities in Montessori education from St. Nicholas Montessori College, Dun Laoghaire, which is accredited by HETAC. I have had inquiries made in relation to entry requirements to the two Montessori colleges and I understand Irish is not an essential subject for entry to the Association Montessori Internationale – AMI – College in Milltown.
Teachers with restricted recognition are eligible to teach only in certain categories of special schools, such as special schools for hearing impaired children, and in special classes in mainstream schools, i.e. in situations where Irish is not a curricular requirement.
