John Lahart
Ceist:225. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education if she has considered the concept of reducing the time for teacher training as suggested recently by the Tánaiste. [44779/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 17 October 2023
Ceisteanna (225)
Freagraí scríofa
The Professional Master of Education (PME) is a two-year, full-time Level 9 postgraduate professional teacher education programme designed to qualify graduates as primary & post-primary teachers.
Changes to the duration and content of initial teacher education programmes were made in response to recommendations in the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among children and Young People 2011-2020 and were incorporated into the Teaching Council’s accreditation standards. What had been the ‘H-Dip’ of 18 months at primary and 1 year at post-primary became the two-year Professional Master of Education for both. The standards were arrived at following extensive research and consultation with regard to the programme that would be required in order to develop the skills, knowledge, understanding, and professional values expected of newly qualified teachers.
The reforms were focused on improving the quality of teaching and learning in schools, which is central to the educational outcomes of children. The extended duration allowed for substantial periods of school placement and a number of mandatory elements in all programmes including literacy and numeracy and ICT in teaching and learning. These standards were recently updated by the Council in Céim (2020) which reaffirms that post-graduate ITE programmes shall be a minimum of two years’ duration.
The extensive nature of curriculum and assessment reforms over the past decade, and the more complex legislative and regulatory context within which teachers and schools operate, have made teaching an even higher-order challenge. Expanded pedagogical approaches and a focus on learner-centred processes have resulted in greater demands on teachers to reach and demonstrate high professional standards. The requirements for ITE are a significant factor in the high quality of our teaching profession in Ireland, which is recognised at home and abroad.
It is acknowledged that there are challenges around the availability of teachers at present. While there are currently no plans to reduce the current duration of the postgraduate ITE programmes to one year, the Department’s ongoing approach is to continue to develop further innovative measures to improve the availability of teachers.
New funding of €4 million is to be provided to introduce a professional masters in education (PME) incentive scheme to support teacher supply measures and to reflect the costs incurred in undertaking the PME.
Newly qualified teachers who possess a PME may be eligible for an incentive payment of €2,000. The single incentive payment will first become available to eligible primary and post primary teachers after completion of the 2024/25 school year.
This funding recognises the costs that PME students bear in order to complete their initial teacher education.
An official circular with details of the measures will issue in due course.