Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has met with the group TEACH or has been made aware of their proposal known as the Newman solution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9534/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department has received the proposal known as the Newman Solution and is considering the impacts it would have including funding, on the capacity of the colleges of education to administer an extra year and extended periods of teaching placements and on the school system.

The Deputy may be aware that there are significant changes currently under consideration for primary initial teacher education programmes. The draft national plan on Literacy and Numeracy which was launched in November 2010 sets out national targets covering early childhood, primary education and post-primary education. The targets seek to foster a better culture of reading and more positive attitudes towards mathematics among young people. A key element of the plan relates to Initial Teacher Education (ITE): lengthening the Bachelor of Education degree programme for primary teachers to four years and the dropping of many academic subjects in colleges of education in favour of the study of education and literacy and numeracy teaching; lengthening of H Dip Ed course for post-primary teaching to two years; longer and more structured teacher practice sessions.

The courses are not simply to be lengthened, but to be reconfigured so that there is greater integration of academic and practical elements, and so that the graduates will be reflective practitioners capable of self-direction and applying current research on an ongoing basis to their own teaching.

Concurrently, The Teaching Council, the professional body for teachers, has recently launched its Draft Policy Paper on the Continuum of Teacher Education which will bring together Initial Teacher Education, induction and early and continuing professional development (CPD). The Council sought views, comments and suggestions of stakeholders on this important document which also envisages lengthening of the Bachelor of Education course to a minimum of four years and the post graduate programme for primary teachers to two years by 2012/13.

The implementation of these measures would be a significant undertaking by the Colleges of Education, the Teaching Council and my Department which requires, discussion, debate and careful planning and preparation in order to achieve the best outcome possible.

I understand that the Teaching Council has also been made aware of the "Newman Solution" which will be considered in the context of the proposed reforms to primary initial teacher education programmes.