The information which the Deputy requested in relation to the number of primary teachers who graduated is shown in the table. The number of vacancies in primary schools varies throughout the school year and are managed at local level by individual school Boards of Management. Under the terms of the Education Act, 1998, the Board of Management of a primary school is responsible for the recruitment, selection and appointment of all teachers to a school. Appointments are notified to my Department by the Board of Management. My Department has no role in the selection and appointment process.
There were 615 unqualified teachers out of a cohort of 30,609 teachers at primary level on my Department's payroll in May, 2008. The corresponding figures for the previous four years were:
403 — 2007
291 — 2006
332 — 2005
589 — 2004.
Boards of Management are obliged to recruit and employ fully qualified primary teachers for any vacancy in a school, regardless of the duration of the vacancy. Information regarding recognised qualifications can be obtained from the Primary Administration Section of my Department.
Number of Primary Teacher Graduations
Year
|
Bachelor of Education
|
Post Graduate
|
2003
|
955
|
449
|
2004
|
974
|
436
|
2005
|
973
|
677
|
2006
|
1009
|
744
|
2007
|
970
|
756
|
2008 (Provisional)
|
1,072
|
801
|
Total
|
5,953
|
3,863
|