Hybrid course to allow teachers ‘span’ primary and secondary

Future trainee teachers may have the option of taking a hybrid course that would allow them work in both primary and secondary schools.

The proposal, which is likely to meet strong opposition from teacher unions, is contained in plans by TCD, UCD, Marino Institute of Education and the National College of Art and Design to merge their teacher education capacities into one centre.

In a progress report on the merger, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) notes that the four partner institutions have set out an ambitious plan to create "a new form of postgraduate teacher education".

Under the proposed two-year postgraduate programme, students would still opt for either primary or post-primary teaching, but they would also be able to avail of a module that would “span the transition” between the two sectors.

The aim would be allow primary teachers work up to the Junior Cycle, and to allow secondary teachers work at the senior end of primary school.

Institutions

The partner institutions are meeting with the

Teaching Council

next month to discuss the plan. They argue that greater continuity in pedagogy is required between primary and post-primary, especially if the planned Junior Cycle reforms go ahead.

The HEA notes that: “The institutions recognise the very innovative nature of this programme and the need for consultation with the Teaching Council in particular in relation to the evaluation and accreditation for such a programme.”

Separately, the progress report noted that the four institutions had committed themselves to a new centre for teacher education after some early resistance from UCD in particular.

Instead of locating the proposed centre at Marino, as suggested in an expert report, it said: “The aim is to provide for a virtual centre drawing from the resources of all institutional members to enhance the quality of their teacher education and research.”

The collaboration is part of a plan to reduce the number of teacher training centres from 19 to six, boosting the research capacity and expertise of colleges in the process.

The HEA notes that the merger of NUI Maynooth and Froebel College has been successfully completed, while the merger of DCU; St Patrick's College, Drumcondra; Mater Dei Institute of Education and the Church of Ireland College of Education is progressing rapidly.

A key feature of the project is “the innovative way in which the institutions plan to provide for denominational education in a secular university. This will be achieved through the creation of specific centres for denominational education which will provide the particular education and training required for those denominations.”