Sorca Clarke
Ceist:90. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if her Department is currently reviewing the content, cost and duration of the Professional Master of Education. [52535/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 30 November 2023
Ceisteanna (90)
Freagraí scríofa
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.
The Teaching Council is the statutory body with responsibility for review and accreditation of programmes of initial teacher education.
Changes to the duration and content of initial teacher education (ITE) programmes were made in order to improve literacy and numeracy among children and young people 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 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 reforms are also intended to ensure that graduating teachers are best placed to support learners from all backgrounds, including students with additional learning needs.
Some 48% of teaching graduates at primary and 60% at post-primary over recent years have come through the PME route. Among the measures taken in recent years to support the supply of teachers has been an increase in the number of 4-year undergraduate post-primary ITE programmes.
At the same time, I am very conscious that the PME represents a very significant undertaking for students. I was delighted to announce in Budget 2024 that a PME incentive scheme will be introduced for newly qualified teachers graduating in 2024. Those newly qualified teachers who graduate with a PME will, subject to eligibility criteria, receive an incentive payment of up to €2,000. This will be paid to eligible primary and post-primary teachers in 2025. It will recognise the costs that PME students incur when completing their initial teacher education, assist them with these costs and encourage suitable candidates to consider a career in teaching.
The details of the administration of the scheme are being worked on by the Department.
Students may also be eligible to receive grant funding under the Student Grant Scheme. Grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.