Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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621. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the consideration she has given to the condensing of the Professional Masters in Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1522/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Professional Master of Education (PME) is a two-year, full-time Level 9 postgraduate professional teacher education programme designed to qualify graduates as primary and post-primary teachers.

Changes to the duration and content of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes were made in response to recommendations in the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among children and Young People 2011-2020 and were incorporated into the Teaching Council’s accreditation standards.

What had been the ‘H-Dip’ of 18 months at primary and 1 year at post-primary became the two-year Professional Master of Education for both. The standards were arrived at following extensive research and consultation with regard to the programme that would be required in order to develop the skills, knowledge, understanding, and professional values expected of newly qualified teachers.

The reforms were focused on improving the quality of teaching and learning in schools, which is central to the educational outcomes of children. The extended duration allowed for substantial periods of school placement and a number of mandatory elements in all programmes including literacy and numeracy and ICT in teaching and learning.

These standards were updated by the Council in Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education (2020) which reaffirms that post-graduate ITE programmes shall be a minimum of two years’ duration.

The extensive nature of curriculum and assessment reforms over the past decade, the more complex legislative and regulatory context within which teachers and schools operate, expanded pedagogical approaches and a focus on learner-centred processes have resulted in evolving demands on teachers to reach and demonstrate high professional standards. The requirements for ITE are a significant factor in the high quality of our teaching profession in Ireland, which is recognised at home and abroad.

It is acknowledged that there are challenges around the availability of teachers at present. While there are currently no plans to reduce the current duration of the postgraduate ITE programmes to one year, the Department’s ongoing approach is to continue to develop further innovative measures to improve the availability of teachers.