Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 139: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she has read the report, prepared on behalf of the Teaching Council, of the current practices, standards, priorities and outcomes of the educational procedures in a college (details supplied) in County Limerick; her views on the outcomes and conclusions of the report, in view of the significant fall in the PISA 09 results here; the action she will take regarding same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2468/11]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, in accordance with Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act 201, the Teaching Council has a statutory role in relation to the review and accreditation of the programmes of teacher education and training provided by institutes of higher education and training in the State.

The Council's role in reviewing and accrediting programmes of initial teacher education will allow it to ensure that high standards of entry to the profession in Ireland are maintained. It is important for our young people, and society as a whole, that these standards be upheld and it is also important for the purpose of maintaining the reputation of the profession. The review of four programmes in both 2009/2010 and in 2010/2011 marks a significant first step for the Council and for all the partners in education who have contributed to the development of the Council's Review and Accreditation Strategy.

The reviews were carried out by independent Review Panels working on the Council's behalf. Each panel reviewed the programmes based on a thorough assessment of programme documentation and a three-day visit to each college. Over the course of the visits, the panels met with programme staff and students as well as graduates of the programme and employers of those graduates. They also inspected teaching and learning facilities, observed a sample of lectures, viewed students' project work and visited schools where teaching practice was taking place.

I am pleased that the Council has recently published the reports, including recommendations, of the first four reviews, including that of the College referred to by the Deputy. That particular report recommends to the Teaching Council that the programme be granted accreditation. The report also identifies a significant number of strengths in relation to the College's staff, work ethic, value system, experience of the students and so on, while it also makes specific recommendations in relation to the time allocated to programme components and the preparation of students in particular educational areas, amongst other things.

I understand that the Council will be engaging with the institutions concerned in relation to the implementation of the relevant recommendations, and I look forward to the outcome of that engagement. I am confident also that the open availability of these reports to the wider initial teacher education sector will serve as a guide to other providers in developing and improving their own initial teacher education programmes and the sector as a whole will benefit accordingly. The PISA report, which was published by the OECD on 7 December 2010, showed results in reading and maths which were lower than in previous years. While national and international experts have advised that we should treat the results of just one PISA test with caution, I believe that the outcomes show that we must make a major effort to improve our literacy and numeracy standards.

This means we must press on with our reform agenda and the national rollout of the changes to post-primary Mathematics involved in Project Maths. In November 2010, I launched "Better Literacy and Numeracy for Children and Young People", a major draft national plan to improve literacy and numeracy in schools and I have invited submissions from interested parties. The plan will bring radical changes to teacher education, curriculum and assessment at school level and nationally. The Teaching Council will also be working with the Department to advance the aims of the plan. I am convinced that implementing a comprehensive package of these reforms is needed to place Irish students among the highest performing students in literacy and numeracy world-wide.