Written answers

Wednesday, 2 April 2008

Department of Education and Science

State Examinations

9:00 pm

Photo of Ned O'KeeffeNed O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 785: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on reducing the leaving certificate examination points for students who wish to qualify for primary school teaching college and who are doing their examinations through Irish and attending all-Irish schools outside the Gaeltacht as students currently attending schools in the Gaeltacht qualify for such college places on reduced points. [11988/08]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The minimum requirements for places on Bachelor of Education courses in Colleges of Education are Leaving Certificate Grade C3 Higher Level in not less than three subjects, Grade D3 in three other subjects, Grade C3 in Higher Level Irish, Grade C3 in English Ordinary Level or D3 Higher Level, Grade D3 in Mathematics (either ordinary or Higher Level). Applicants apply on one single Leaving Certificate only but the three qualifying subjects of Grade C3 in Higher Level Irish and the grades in English and Mathematics may be achieved in other Leaving Certificate examination(s) but will not be counted for points.

These minimum requirements for entry to primary teacher education colleges apply to all undergraduate students, regardless of where they live, or the type of school they have attended. Candidates from Gaeltacht areas must also meet these minimum requirements.

A separate system of application exists in some of the Colleges of Education for B.Ed applicants who reside in the officially designated Gaeltacht, and the normal language of whose home is Irish. There is a lower points requirement for these applicants and the Colleges of Education can allocate up to 10% of places on the B.Ed from this stream of applicants.

The Teaching Council now has a remit to advise the Minister for Education and Science in relation to the minimum standards of educational qualifications required for entry into programmes of teacher education. The Deputy may be aware that the Council has commenced its work on an overall review of initial teacher education, and this issue may form part of future discussion with the Council in this regard. I have no plans to change the position at present.

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