Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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851. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has considered the concerns raised by student bodies in relation to the adapted school placement model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2422/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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At the outset, I want to acknowledge the key role being played by student teachers in supporting our schools during the pandemic, particularly at the present time in providing substitution cover. Their willingness to support the system at this exceptional time is highly valued and is vitally important to ensure that our schools remain open for pupils.

I do understand that this has been a challenging time for student teachers as they undertake their studies in the midst of the pandemic.

In light of the evolving situation with Covid-19, the Teaching Council and my Department, together with the relevant primary initial teacher education (ITE) providers, worked to develop Adapted School Placement arrangements. The arrangements apply to school placement for Year 3 and Year 4 student teachers on concurrent (Bachelor of Education) programmes of Primary Initial Teacher Education and student teachers on consecutive (Professional Master of Education) programmes of Primary ITE for the period from when the schools reopened in January 2022 and may extend up to the mid-term break in February 2022.

My Department has received representations in relation to concerns from student bodies in one of the relevant higher education institutions (HEIs) and has issued a response to provide clarity on the key areas of concern. I understand that students have also had ongoing engagement with their higher education institution to get additional clarifications on many of these issues over recent days.

The Framework is based on the periods of planned school placement. As would have been the case with this planned school placement period, student teachers will continue to be located in their host school for these adapted school placement arrangements. However the arrangement provides for student teachers to be paid for any substitution work that they undertake during these adapted school placement periods. The Framework does not require any extension in the time period that student teachers spend on school placement.

In addition, I wish to clarify that under the adapted school placement arrangements it is not a mandatory requirement for individual student teachers to undertake substitution work.

As stated in the Framework, the Teaching Council, which is professional standards body for teaching, has confirmed that these adapted school placement arrangements will not adversely impact ITE programmes’ professional accreditation status nor will they be an impediment to the professional registration of the future graduates described in this framework.

My Department, the Teaching Council, the HEIs and other stakeholders will monitor these adapted school placement arrangements on an ongoing basis and provide additional clarity if and when required.