Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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44. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the six-year route to qualifying as a second level teacher is too long. [14449/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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There are two routes to the teaching profession at post primary level, concurrent (undergraduate) and consecutive (postgraduate) programmes of initial teacher education (ITE).  All ITE programmes in Ireland that lead to registration with the Teaching Council must have professional accreditation from the Council.

Teachers qualifying through the undergraduate route typically complete a four year level 8 ITE programme. I have announced 280 extra places on these courses for September 2018. I welcome that there has been a 4 % increase in the number of students applying for these courses.

Teachers qualifying through the postgraduate route will have completed a level 8 degree and a two year Professional Masters in Education. I have announced 100 extra places on these courses for September 2018.

Changes to initial teacher education were recommended in the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011-2020 and were incorporated into the Teaching Council’s Policy Paper on the Continuum of Teacher Education and Criteria and Guidelines for Programme Providers. Both were published in 2011. 

The changes made to post graduate ITE programmes included the reconfiguration of their content and an increase in their duration to two years.  The increased duration allows for substantial periods of school placement, which is central to student teacher development, and a number of mandatory elements such as Literacy & Numeracy, Adolescent Learning and Teaching, Learning and Assessment.

The changes made to the content and duration of the initial teacher education programmes for post primary teaching are in line with the aims of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy and aim to ensure that newly qualified teachers are better equipped for the needs of modern day classroom.

The Deputy may wish to note that earlier this week I convened the first meeting of the Teacher Supply Steering Group, which is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department.

The Group will consider the issues that impact on teacher supply, including the length of ITE programmes, and oversee a programme of actions according to strict timelines and clear deliverables to meet important needs. In undertaking its task, the Group will be cognisant of the requirement that all persons wishing to teach in recognised schools must meet the professional registration standards and criteria set by the Teaching Council, which is the professional regulatory body for the teaching.