Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 183: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to a matter (details supplied). [25877/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the recognition of teacher qualifications is now a matter for the Teaching Council, the body with responsibility for establishing and maintaining standards in the teaching profession.

My officials have made enquiries with the Teaching Council regarding this case and are advised as follows: The Teaching Council is aware that Qualified Teacher Status awarded in the General Teaching Council for England is not sector or subject specific. However, there are distinct differences in the forms of registration granted by the respective Teaching Councils in that the registration granted by the Teaching Council in Ireland is specific to the educational sector and to the curricular subjects at post-primary level. In granting registration to the person who is the subject of this question, the Teaching Council has complied fully with the requirements of EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

The Teaching Council grants registration on the basis of qualifications. It cannot register a teacher on the basis of qualifications in primary education when that teacher has completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education in secondary education. The Council's requirements of a qualification in primary education are set out below (Schedule 1 to the 2009 [Registration] Regulations).

I have directed that teachers proposed for appointment to teaching posts for which salary grant is being sought from my Department should be registered with the Teaching Council in accordance with Section 31 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 and have qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which s/he is proposed.

SCHEDULE ONE

The following is an outline of the principal requirements of the Council in relation to a satisfactory course in the theory and practice of education for the purposes of Regulation 2.

The applicant must provide officially certified evidence of satisfactory achievement in initial teacher education as outlined hereunder.

The course of initial professional preparation shall include all three of the following major areas: Studies in the Foundation Disciplines of Education, Professional Studies, and a Practical Teaching Programme.

(A) Studies in the Foundation Disciplines of Education

Substantial courses in each of the following Foundation Disciplines of Education:

(i) Philosophy of Education;

(ii) Sociology of Education;

(iii) The Psychology of Teaching and Learning;

(iv) The Psychology of Child Development;

(v) History of Education;

(vi) Inclusion and Diversity – Meeting diverse needs including:

Children with Special Educational Needs, Educational

Disadvantage and Intercultural Education.

The programme should have equipped the applicant with an understanding of the Foundation Disciplines of education as these relate to the study of educational issues. The Foundation Disciplines may have been taught separately or in an integrated way. If the disciplines were taught in an integrated way, the evidence provided by the applicant must clearly specify the precise content of the relevant modules as well as accurately specifying the amount of programme time devoted to the coverage of the relevant content or topic areas.

(B) Professional Studies

Substantial courses of relevant studies in professional studies in the pedagogy of

the entire range of subjects which is included in the Primary School Curriculum

(listed below). The courses should have been directed towards the entire age

range of pupils in classes from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. They must have

included:

(i) the content and teaching methodology of each subject;

(ii) an integrated understanding of early childhood education;

(iii) the principles of school organisation and classroom management;

(iv) use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

in teaching and learning;

(v) assessment, evaluation and curriculum studies.

Curriculum Subjects as listed in the Primary School Curriculum:

(i) English;

(ii) Gaeilge;

(iii) Mathematics;

(iv) Social, Environmental, and Scientifi c Education (SESE):

a) History;

b) Geography;

c) Science;

(v) Arts Education:

a) Visual Arts;

b) Drama;

c) Music;

(vi) Physical Education;

(vii) Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE);

(viii) Such other areas as may be included in Curaclam na Bunscoile.

The programme of teacher education followed should have enabled participants to:

(i) acquire an understanding of appropriate ways of relating to

and providing feedback to pupils, parents, fellow teachers

and other professionals;

(ii) develop an understanding of, and skills in, teamwork and whole-school planning and development;

(iii) gain an understanding of their ethical and legal obligations as teachers.

(C) Practical Teaching Programme

The programme of teacher education followed by the applicant must have included practice in teaching under supervision in a recognised primary school. For the purposes of fulfilling this requirement, an applicant must have spent

a minimum of 18 school weeks directly teaching a class or classes across the range of subjects in the Curriculum. The practice in teaching must also have been directly supervised by the university or college concerned.

The applicant must have passed the Teaching Practice element of his/her teacher

education programme independently of other subject areas.