Written answers

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Covid-19 Pandemic

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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193. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consult with parents and children on decisions to be taken in respect of the reopening of schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8680/20]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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On 1 May 2020, the Taoiseach announced as part of the "Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business" that schools will commence opening on a phased basis at the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year.

My Department is engaging and working with representatives of both students and parents, on planning arrangements for the re-opening of schools in accordance with the timeframe outlined in the roadmap, and all decisions on how schools are to safely re-open and operate will be consistent with public health advice.

Photo of Cathal CroweCathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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194. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department and the Teaching Council will make allowances for school days lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic for those that in the 2019/2020 academic year were in the process of completing the Droichead framework process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8685/20]

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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196. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8692/20]

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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203. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on Droichead training for teachers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8754/20]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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207. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason online teaching is not being counted for the purpose of the Droichead process for persons who had all other aspects completed prior to school closures on 12 March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8796/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason newly qualified teachers who have not completed the required 60-day block teaching requirement by 12 March 2020 are being disadvantaged (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8854/20]

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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250. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address an issue that has emerged regarding Droichead training and newly qualified teachers (details supplied). [9036/20]

Photo of Gary GannonGary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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306. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the decision by the Teaching Council to not allow virtual teaching to be included in the probationary period, Droichead, of newly qualified teachers (details supplied). [9503/20]

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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317. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures being considered for trainee teachers who were unable to complete their NQT 60 days due to Covid-19 restrictions closing schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9582/20]

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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318. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the engagement by trainee teachers looking to complete their NQT 60 days but disrupted by Covid-19 restrictions who are continuing to participate in the school environment with online teaching and staff meetings will be considered as part of their NQT 60 days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9583/20]

Photo of Cormac DevlinCormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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322. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements that have been put in place for student teachers undergoing the Droichead process to ensure that they qualify in time to contribute fully to the 2020/2021 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9743/20]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 194, 196, 203, 207, 216, 250, 306, 317, 318 and 322 together.

The Teaching Council is the statutory body with responsibility for professional standards at all stages of the teaching career. It has established standards for post-qualification professional practice, as set out in Droichead, the integrated professional induction framework for newly qualified primary and post-primary teachers.

Due to Covid-19 and the unprecedented situation of school closures, on May 22nd last the Teaching Council announced revised arrangements which provide additional flexibility to support newly qualified teachers (NQTs) engaging in Droichead in 2019/2020 to complete the process. These arrangements balance the core principles of the policy which is the school based supportive process coupled with engagement in additional professional learning activities.

The Council has made a significant concession for NQTs who had not completed the full Droichead process within the minimum period of time by 12 March. This includes the recognition of all elements of Droichead which have been completed up to that date i.e. additional professional learning activities, observations, professional conversations, cluster meetings, Taisce (the professional learning portfolio) and days/hours taught. In normal circumstances this would not be the position.

Droichead as a process is not simply about teaching time. From a professional standards point of view, it requires the agreement of the NQT and the Professional Support Team in the school that a quality induction process has occurred over the minimum period of time specified.

I am, however, also aware of concerns raised regarding a smaller group of NQTs who had not met the minimum time requirement by 12 March. I understand the Teaching Council intends to further review their situation i.e. how the Professional Support Teams and any NQTs who may be potentially affected can verify that a quality induction process has occurred throughout the period since 12 March in the context of remote teaching and learning.

The Teaching Council will communicate the outcome of this review to all concerned within the next two weeks.

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