Vol. 574 No. 2
168 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps being taken to reduce the dependence on untrained teachers employed in primary schools, in view of the fact that more than 152,000 teaching days were undertaken by such teachers in the 2002-03 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26506/03]
Unqualified teachers should only be employed in primary schools in exceptional circumstances and when all avenues for recruiting qualified personnel have been exhausted. The primary sector has experienced a shortage of trained teachers in recent years, mainly as a result of the large number of posts created to reduce class sizes, to cater for pupils in disadvantaged areas and to provide for those with special educational needs. The difficulties experienced are aggravated by the number of teachers availing of career break and jobsharing schemes. My Department has introduced a range of measures to address the current shortage of qualified teachers and is also examining further options for addressing the teacher supply issue in consultation with relevant interests.
Since 1999, more than 1,000 students have been admitted annually to the B. Ed. programme in the colleges of education. This represents a doubling of the number admitted to the programme in 1996. The total intake in the 2002-03 academic year was approximately 1,350 students. This compares to an intake of 500 in 1996-97. There are currently 3,500 students enrolled and pursuing various stages of primary teacher training programmes in the colleges of education.
I have recently announced that I will be prepared to recognise graduates of a new primary teacher training course for the purposes of primary teaching. The new course is being accredited by HETAC and it will be delivered by Hibernia College, an on-line third level educational company using innovative on-line elearning technology. It will lead to a graduate diploma in primary education. The course will be open to graduates and, in addition to its on-line component, will involve face-to-face tuition delivered at regional locations.
It is important also to acknowledge that the colleges of education have done much to increase the output of primary teachers to meet the needs of schools arising from significant additional teacher allocations in recent years. My Department is examining the need for a further postgraduate course to be provided by the colleges of education and is in contact with the colleges in this regard. In addition to increasing the output of graduates, other initiatives have been introduced to increase the number of trained personnel. B.Ed. graduates of St. Mary's College, Belfast, who have studied Irish to honours level as an academic subject as part of their teaching qualifications are recognised as fully qualified.
Montessori-trained teachers who have successfully completed the full-time course of three years duration at St. Nicholas, Dún Laoghaire, which is recognised by HETAC, or the Montessori qualification which is awarded on completion of the three year full-time course in the AMI College, are recognised as fully qualified substitute teachers and are recognised to teach in certain categories of special schools, special classes and as resource teachers in primary schools.
