Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have a suggestion, which is possibly something the Educational Research Centre is already examining. We look at what we need to provide for students in terms of resilience, numeracy and literacy, but I have been working on a programme and there is probably research I could tie in to it. It is with regard to the teacher training curriculum. Dr. Travers stated some of the research impacts on the school curriculum. Does any of the research impact on the teacher training curriculum, particularly regarding deprivation and DEIS schools? Teachers should be trained to understand the social context in which they work. When they are training in their colleges, their placements should reflect the area in which they will possibly work. For teachers going to DEIS schools, generally their introduction to inequality is what they have learnt in the classroom and what they have been told by other teachers in the DEIS schools. This is not adequate. Teacher training placements should include youth centres and trainee teachers should work with victims of domestic violence, Travellers and migrants in order that they understand the context of where they will work. Does the Educational Research Centre's research look at reforming teacher training in any shape or form or the policies in this regard?