Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2012
380. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Montessori teaching qualifications are not recognised as qualifying a person to teach in primary schools, and the action that needs to be taken to change this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48679/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince March 2006, the recognition of teacher qualifications for the purpose of registration has been the responsibility of the Teaching Council. Teachers with a Montessori qualification are registered under Regulation 3 (Montessori and Other Qualifications) and are taken as analogous to 'Restricted Recognition' as set out in Circular 25/00 – Recognition of Teacher Qualifications for the Purpose of Teaching in National Schools. There are differences between Montessori teaching and Primary Teaching across the entire content and teaching methodology of the primary school curriculum. Teachers with a Montessori qualification are at present given restricted recognition to teach in special schools and in the categories of special classes in mainstream national schools where Irish is not a curricular requirement and in resource posts for pupils with special needs in mainstream schools.
To change the situation such teachers would need to undertake further studies, suitable for qualification as a primary teacher. The Teaching Council has statutory responsibility for professional accreditation of initial teacher education programmes. It is open to any teacher education provider to submit proposals to the Teaching Council for the accreditation of courses leading to qualification as a primary teacher. My officials have discussed this issue with the Teaching Council and will engage with the initial teacher educators in the near future.
