A radical overhaul of primary teacher training, with a new four-year course for all students, has been proposed in a draft report from a Department of Education review body.
With over 1,200 unqualified teachers already working in primary schools, the transition from the current three-year course to a four-year cycle could present difficulties for the Government. It would have to allow for one year in which no qualified teachers would graduate from the five training colleges in the State.
The draft report, seen by The Irish Times, says the existing courses - and the level of resources to deliver them - are not adequate to ensure that graduates will be in a position to meet the future needs of the primary school system. The review group wants to see increased attention given to the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills during teacher training. One child in 10 leaves primary school with significant literacy problems.
A majority of the committee which drew up the report favours the extension of the current postgraduate diploma course from 18 months to two years, but the group has still to deliver a final recommendation. It says graduates with knowledge/skills, such as science, which are needed in primary schools, should be given preference in the selection of candidates for this programme.
The report raises the prospect of one primary teacher teaching several classes, instead of focussing on just one. In practice a teacher with good science, art or music skills might teach several classes in these subjects.
The working group says the current three-year Bachelor of Education (BEd) course should be extended by one year to allow students develop a detailed knowledge of the revised primary school curriculum introduced last year.
The report is critical of the style of teacher training. "The large number of formal lectures that students are expected to attend gives the wrong message on knowledge acquisition and leaves insufficient time for reading, independent work and reflection."
It records one student's view: "We were trained to think and act like robots needing spoonfeeding."
The working group wants less emphasis on academic work and more concentration on practical work and essay-writing.
The report says the five teacher-training colleges in the State should restructure their education programmes in the light of its recommendations. "Plans for restructuring should be submitted to an expert group appointed by the Minister for Education and Science which will respond to the plans within a period of six months."
The working group, chaired by Dr Thomas Kellaghan of the Education Research Centre at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, wants teacher-training colleges to introduce courses in areas of the revised primary school curriculum. These include information technology, science education and Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE).