My Department specifies the minimum academic requirements for entry to primary teacher training courses provided in the colleges of education. As part of these requirements, all candidates, including school leavers, mature students and university graduates, must have a minimum of a grade C in higher level in Irish in the leaving certificate or an approved equivalent. This requirement embodies both the written and oral element of a student's proficiency in Irish.
My Department considers the grade C in higher level in Irish in the leaving certificate to be the minimum standard in Irish necessary for students entering a teacher training course to equip them to teach Irish to pupils at all levels in primary schools.
The number of male students who took the leaving certificate examination in higher level Irish for each of the past ten years and the number of these students who achieved at least a grade C at higher level are set out in tabular form.
Year
|
Number of Candidates
|
Grade C or Higher
|
2005
|
4,626
|
3,721
|
2004
|
4,932
|
3,930
|
2003
|
5,235
|
4,079
|
2002
|
5,120
|
4,121
|
2001
|
5,408
|
4,000
|
2000
|
5,923
|
4,501
|
1999
|
6,087
|
4,730
|
1998
|
6,300
|
4,872
|
1997
|
5,598
|
4,229
|
1996
|
4,984
|
3,948
|
1995
|
5,512
|
3,826
|
In respect of the Deputy's request for information regarding the number of male students who selected primary teacher training, I presume he is referring to students who selected primary teacher training on their central applications office, CAO, forms. In that regard, my officials have sought these details from the CAO and will forward them directly to the Deputy when they are available.