Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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473. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of paying student teachers on placement in schools as part of their college degree. [47963/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Teaching Council, as the professional regulatory body for teaching, has statutory responsibility for the accreditation of initial teacher education (ITE) programmes and for the registration of primary and post-primary teachers.

Revised standards for the accreditation of programmes of ITE, Céim – Standards for Initial Teacher Education, were published by the Teaching Council in November 2020. Céim sets out the requirements that all ITE programmes in Ireland must meet in order to gain accreditation from the Teaching Council. It is also a benchmark for anybody seeking to register as a teacher in Ireland. In line with these revised standards, primary and post primary student teachers must spend between 24 and 30 weeks on school placement as part of their ITE programme.

School placement is a central feature of ITE, where student teachers are welcomed and supported by HEI tutors, school principals, class teachers and the school community. Student teachers’ rich contribution to pupil learning and school life is recognised and celebrated. Student teachers must successfully complete this element of the programme. It provides student teachers with an opportunity to reflect on their identity as teachers, to develop it and become socialised into the profession. It is underpinned by a shared professional understanding that collaborative engagement with school placement provides professional learning opportunities for all involved.

There are no plans, at present, to introduce a payment for student teachers while on school placement as this element is viewed as training rather than employment. The principal aim and function of teaching practice being:

1) help the student teacher develop practical skills through observing and reflecting on the professional teacher working with pupils in the classroom and

2) with support and supervision, enable him/her to bring together the theoretical and practical elements of the course work with the aim of acquiring practical skills in classroom management, curriculum planning, and the organisation of pupils learning activities.

As school placement is a mandatory element of ITE programmes, state grants such as Susi continue to be paid during school placement periods.

Also, for many student teachers who have successfully completed two years of an ITE programme and who choose to register with the Teaching Council, there are many opportunities during the academic year, outside of their school placement period, to earn while working in schools by providing substitution cover when they have availability outside of their ITE programme requirements.

I want to acknowledge the key role played by student teachers in supporting schools in recent years by providing substitution cover. This support was vitally important to ensure that our schools remained open for pupils.

Students providing substitution cover, outside of their ITE programme requirements, will be paid at their appropriate personal rate.

However, as outlined above, there are no plans to introduce payment to student teachers during their periods of school placement as part of their ITE programme requirements.