Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 November 2021
115. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education when she will approve the intake numbers into both the bachelor of education and professional master of education for the next academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53530/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are two routes recognised by the Teaching Council to become a primary teacher:
- A four-year undergraduate Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.) programme.
- A two-year post-graduate Professional Master of Education (PME) programme.
The undergraduate/B. Ed. model offers students who are beginning their tertiary education, and wish to pursue a career in teaching, an opportunity to acquire a teaching qualification. In the postgraduate/PME model, a teacher first obtains a qualification in one or more subjects (through an undergraduate degree), and then studies for a further period to gain the professional qualification in teaching.
There are four State-funded Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) providing primary initial teacher education (ITE). Each of these offers both a full time primary ITE undergraduate/B.Ed. and postgraduate/PME programme:
- DCU Institute of Education.
- Marino Institute of Education.
- Maynooth University (Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education)
- Mary Immaculate College.
There is one private provider, Hibernia College, which provides postgraduate (PME) programmes only (primary and post-primary).
The number of students admitted to primary concurrent and consecutive programmes in State-funded HEIs is determined by my Department, having regard to teacher supply and demand issues, and available resources. This process is currently underway within my Department and all the relevant HEIs will be notified upon its completion.
