Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:246 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if adequate numbers of teachers are available to meet requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10510/03]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
A range of measures to improve teacher supply has been introduced in recent years. The intake to the B.Ed. programme in the colleges of education has been increased dramatically. Since 1999 over 1,000 students have been admitted annually to the undergraduate B.Ed. programme. This represents a doubling of the number admitted to the programme in 1996.
Since 1996 postgraduate diploma courses have been run by the colleges of education to further increase the number of B.Ed graduates. In February 2002, 461 students commenced the postgraduate course and they will graduate in June 2003. A further postgraduate course commenced in February with a maximum of 460 places available on the course and will conclude in May or June 2004. A total of 1,633 students completed the postgraduate course between 1996 and 2002.
The total intake to the colleges of education in the 2001-02 academic year was increased to a record 1,461. This compares with an intake of 500 in 1996-7. At present there are 3,460 students enrolled and pursuing various stages of primary teacher training programmes in the colleges of education.
Between 2002 and 2003 it is projected that some 2,700 qualified primary teachers will graduate from the colleges of education. This represents a huge increase in the number of trained graduates compared with 1995 when 291 graduated.
My Department is examining the feasibility of providing a modular type course for second level trained teachers currently teaching in primary schools who hold the higher diploma in education and the necessary academic requirement in Irish. This proposal will be discussed with the colleges of education in the near future. It would, if implemented, enable these teachers to become fully qualified primary teachers.
As well as increasing the number of student places in the colleges of education, my Department has introduced a range of initiatives to address the current shortage of qualified teachers. B.Ed. graduates of St. Mary's College, Belfast who study Irish to honours level as an academic subject are now recognised as fully qualified. In addition, primary degree holders with the higher diploma in education are now paid on the trained salary scale in respect of temporary teaching service.
Teachers trained in EU countries are also paid at the trained rate for up to five years pending attainment of the necessary competence in Irish. Teachers trained outside the EU whose qualifications are accepted by my Department are granted the same provisional recognition as EU trained teachers.
People who successfully complete the three year Montessori course in St. Nicholas, Dún Laoghaire, that is recognised by the NCEA, and those who attain the Montessori qualification on completion of the three year full-time course in the AMI College are recognised as fully qualified for substitute teaching. Such teachers are also fully recognised for teaching service in certain categories of special schools and classes where Irish is not a requirement on the curriculum. Fully qualified teachers trained outside the State are also fully recognised to teach in these categories of schools and classes.
I am confident that these measures are contributing significantly to an improvement in the supply of trained primary teachers. I am committed to ensuring that the existing shortage of qualified teachers will be eliminated within the next two to three years.
Question No. 247 answered with Question No. 253.
Questions Nos. 248 and 249 answered with Question No. 41.