Vol. 571 No. 3
51 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which the granting of the on-line teacher training course fits in with the stringent recommendations of the Kelleghan report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21565/03]
The Minister for Education and Science is the designated authority for purpose of recognition of qualifications for employment in the regulated profession of primary teachers. The recognition of the qualification will apply so long as all the conditions set by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, HETAC, are met, including those relating to quality assurance. The council was set up under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 to establish policies and criteria for the making of higher education and training awards and the validation of programmes outside the university sector, to determine the standards of knowledge skills and competences to be acquired by learners for an award, to make or recognise awards, and to monitor the quality of programmes, ensuring that providers have procedures for assessment of learners which are fair and consistent. The report of the working group on primary pre-service teacher education is currently under consideration in my Department.
