Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1092. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the new curricular subject requirements which will be in effect from 1 January 2023 downgrade the importance of Irish history by removing the requirement that history teachers should have passed Irish history modules in university equivalent to at least a quarter of their history credits. [20756/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to advise the Deputy that the Teaching Council initiated a review of its post-primary curricular subject requirements in 2018 in the context of a range of factors including ongoing developments in the continuum of teacher education, teacher supply issues and Junior Cycle reform.

Following a wide-ranging and comprehensive consultation process conducted with stakeholders between 2018 and 2019, the revised requirements were published in November 2020. Whilst maintaining standards, these revised requirements enhance access to the register for suitably qualified individuals and bring parity of esteem across all subjects.

In relation to the subject of History, the requirements provide that applicants must hold a degree level qualification with History studied up to and including third year level; the study of Irish History is required and the studies must show that the holder has acquired sufficient knowledge, skills and understanding to teach the History syllabus/specification to the highest level in post-primary education. The removal of specific ECTs requirements in the revision of the curricular subject requirements provides flexibilities whilst maintaining and safeguarding standards.