Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:265. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding teacher supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12727/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 20 March 2018
Ceisteanna (265)
Freagraí scríofa
The Deputy is referring to correspondence from a person concerning the supply of teachers of STEM subjects and to her eligibility for a student grant.
As the Deputy will be aware, additional investment has allowed the successful recruitment of over 5,000 additional teachers in the last two years. Since 2012/2013, there are 8,900 more teachers in our schools. No other part of the public service has seen growth on this scale, which is testament to the Government’s commitment to, and the importance of education in, fulfilling our national ambitions.
The numbers of graduates from initial teacher education, ITE, programmes have also remained broadly constant. Over 8,000 primary and 7,600 second level teachers have graduated in the last five years and in 2018 it is estimated that approximately 3,300 primary and post primary teachers will graduate.
In November 2017 I launched a STEM policy statement and implementation plan, which aims to make Ireland the best in Europe in STEM by 2026. This policy statement focusses on the many strengths in STEM education in Ireland while providing a roadmap to address the areas for development.
Some schools have reported shortages in recruiting teachers in specific subjects at post primary level, including in STEM, and as part of the implementation of the policy I am determined to deliver increased teacher supply in key priority areas.
At post primary level, following consultation with the Irish Universities Association, I recently announced an expansion of the number of available places on post primary ITE programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. I also announced that there will be additional places provided in the priority areas of STEM, Irish and foreign languages.
I am also establishing a teacher supply steering group which will consult with key stakeholders and consider all options to achieve the increases in teacher supply needed to address shortages of substitute teachers at primary level and shortages of teachers of certain areas, including STEM subjects, at post primary level. The first meeting of the steering group will take place in the coming weeks.
The correspondence to which the Deputy refers also concerns the eligibility for a grant of a person who has already completed a number of years of a level 8 course and has commenced a different level 8 course.
The position is that, in order to be eligible for a grant under the Student Grant Scheme 2017, a student must be progressing i.e. he/she must be moving from year to year within a course, having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another, where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course.
Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme 2017 a grant will not be paid to a student for a repeat period of study on the same course or on a different course, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. Article 15(7) (c) of the Scheme states that a student, having attended but not completed any Level 8 course, is required to complete an equivalent period of study on an approved Level 8 course before being eligible to be considered for a grant.