Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I am disappointed that neither the Minister for Education and Science nor a Minister of State at his Department is present for this debate. That is no reflection on the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, but merely a reflection of the seriousness of the issue we are discussing. In recent years, the Department of Education and Science has encouraged young people to enter the teaching profession. Many people have done this through the higher diploma course, having first attained a degree elsewhere and proceeded to the 18 month graduate course or the Hibernian College on-line course. I speak on behalf of several students in County Wexford and I am aware of students in a similar position in counties Limerick, Cork, Waterford and Galway. Deputy Tom Sheahan will speak for students from County Kerry. Some students have completed an 18 month course either on-line or in one of the teacher training colleges and are now in teaching placement. During this first year of teaching, they are to be assessed by a suitably qualified inspector from the Department of Education and Science. There are three such assessments or inspections due. The first involves an introductory inspection and an initial call from the inspector. The second assessment involves a mini-diploma, whereby the inspector stays with the student for two or three hours or a half a day. Then there is the full-diploma assessment, whereby the inspector stays with the student for a full day's teaching. This must be carried out within the first year of qualification.

A concerned student contacted me as no one from the Department had called to the school to arrange assessments with her. She made inquiries last week and was told that because of education cutbacks, she would not be assessed this year. This person is in dire straits as are her fellow students. She intended to complete her first year teaching practice as she wishes to travel abroad for two or three years. If this person is not assessed this year, she may have to cancel her plans. I do not believe it is fair on any person or student to have to put his or her life on hold because of the Department of Education and Science cutbacks. Will the Minister of State agree this is an outrageous situation for any student? Will the Minister of State relay to the Department the concerns raised by me this evening?

See this speech in context