Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

The Teaching Council recently carried out a survey of post-primary schools to ascertain the qualifications of maths teachers. The results of the survey show that a significant majority of teachers - 68% - teaching maths in 258 schools are fully qualified to do so, that 29% have pursued some studies in maths and that only 2% have not obtained third level qualifications or pursued studies in maths. The Teaching Council has asked schools which have not completed the earlier survey to do so by 26 September.

Providing for high quality teaching and learning of mathematics is of key strategic importance to the State. As part of the Government's overall strategy to improve the teaching and learning of maths in schools, my Department is making arrangements for the provision of a new training programme for maths teachers. This will provide unqualified maths teachers with the opportunity to upskill their knowledge of mathematics and study the strategies best suited to the new Project Maths syllabuses.

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