John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 398: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has received correspondence (details supplied) on the higher diploma in arts in the primary education programme; if she will accede to their request and allow the candidates all of whom have level 7 qualifications to proceed in the programme as the level 8 requirement imposed is both unfair and unjust; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28269/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The academic requirements for entry to the postgraduate primary teacher training programme is set at honours bachelors degree or level 8 in the national framework of qualifications. The entry requirement for the programme is set at this level to maintain and enhance the quality of teaching and learning in our schools into the future. This entry requirement, together with other criteria, is applicable to all those graduates who wish to consider primary teaching as a career. As all the criteria are common for all applicants, I do not intend changing the academic requirement for any individual or group of individuals or to make an exception in such cases.