Written answers
Wednesday, 15 January 2014
Department of Social Protection
Back to Education Allowance Eligibility
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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344. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the back to education allowance scheme to those students undertaking the professional masters in education programme in Dublin City University. [55335/13]
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is designed to support second chance education. It enables eligible persons to pursue approved education courses that leads to a higher qualification than that already held and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study, subject to conditions. BTEA covers full-time second level courses and third level courses to higher diploma level (level 8 in the national framework of qualifications) including the professional diploma in education (primary and secondary teaching). The BTEA does not currently provide income support for students pursuing other postgraduate qualifications, masters or doctorates.
Yvonne Myles
Posted on 17 Mar 2014 7:23 pm (Report this comment)
This does not answer the question. As from this coming academic year the Professional Diploma in Education (Level 8), previously the HDip, will not exist. This is the qualification needed to become a secondary school teacher. It is being replaced by a two year Professional Master of Education (Level 9). There is no other option other than doing this 2 year programme to qualify to teach in secondary schools. As this has replaced what was the Professional Diploma in Education, which Ms Burton states is included under the scheme, surely it should be covered. I have nearly completed four years of my Arts Degree in the hope of becoming a secondary school teacher of Spanish and Religion. Without BTEA it will be impossible for me to do that.