College Choice:Every weekday, until the deadline at the end of teh month, careers expert Brian Mooneywill guide you through the CAO process and outline the best possible options
One of the few winners in the recent benchmarking report were primary school principals and deputy principals, who saw their minimum principal's allowance rise to €12,261 and €6,533 respectively. Teaching still attracts the brightest and best of our school-leavers, with entry points requirements of 465 in 2007 for three-year, level eight Bachelor of Education degrees at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, and St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin.
Entry requirements
Entry points requirements for the three level seven ordinary degrees offered in Dublin by Coláiste Mhuire, Marino; Froebel College, Sion Hill; and the Church of Ireland College, Rathmines, were a little lower, at 455 and 450 in Marino and Sion Hill and 365 in the Church of Ireland College. The latter figure was due to the lower cohort of applicants from this religious denomination. Graduates of all three programmes can then do a level eight degree by completing a further year offered through Trinity College.
Gaeltacht applicants
Ten per cent of places are reserved for Gaeltacht applicants in all the colleges. Points requirements are about 40 points lower. Only students with a minimum of a C3 or better in Irish at higher level will be eligible for a place on any primary school teacher training programme.
Reserved places for disadvantaged
Mary Immaculate reserves up to 5 per cent of places for applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds. This scheme is open to all applicants irrespective of geographical location or schools attended. Such applicants, who come within 40 points of the cut-off point, are considered under this scheme. Mary Immaculate also offers a four-year level eight degree programme in education and psychology.
Graduate entry to primary teaching
Level eight graduates who meet the minimum entry requirements in Gaeilge, English and maths have a graduate entry route to primary teaching. Entry to this 18-month programme, which begins in February each year, is by interview. The interview comprises a general suitability interview (100) plus an interview in Irish (40). For further details see www.mic.ul.ie
Online teacher training
Hibernia College offers a fully recognised online postgraduate entry option to primary teaching, with courses commencing in October and February each year. This is a part-time course, so in theory you can be in full-time employment. The commitment required to complete the programme involves a physical education programme (one week and one weekend), the Gaeltacht programme (three weeks) and teaching practice (14 weeks). Students are required to do approximately 12 hours of online study per week, in their own time, and two hours of online tutorials, at scheduled times. Fees of €8,250 per year apply. See www.hiberniacollege.net
Pay and job prospects
Newly qualified teachers enjoy a minimum starting salary of €34,000 per year, plus a further €3,000 allowance for honours degree holders at first- or second-class level. They enjoy an entitlement to an index-linked State-funded pension.
After 24 years' service, a classroom teacher earns a minimum of €65,000. Given the recent population increase, job opportunities for teachers are good.
Second-level teaching
The traditional route into second-level teaching is through a primary degree in arts, science or business followed by a higher diploma in education. Securing a place on this course can be difficult. For this reason, colleges have developed a range of degrees outlined below that qualify graduates as teachers and include a teacher-training component.
The University of Limerick offers a wide range of level eight degree programmes that qualify graduates to work as second-level teachers. These include language degrees, which qualify graduates in two languages; materials and construction plus materials and engineering technology with teacher education; physical education with teacher education; science with teacher education; physics and chemistry plus biological sciences with physics or chemistry, and a range of other teacher training programmes.
Mater Dei Institute offers religious education with English, history, and music. St Patrick's, Thurles, offers religious studies, business studies and education.
The Milltown Institute, Pontifical University Maynooth, and All Hallows College also offer a range of programmes leading to teaching careers. St Angela's, Sligo, offers four degree programmes in home economics with religious education, biology, Irish, and economics.
University College Cork offers a B Ed in sports studies (CK116); sciences biological and chemical (CK402); chemical sciences (CK406); sciences mathematical (CK407); and physics and astrophysics (CK408). Students in these degree programmes may choose to follow a teaching route.
DCU offers science education (DC203). This degree course allows you to specialise in any two subjects from chemistry, physics and mathematics. These options kick in during the second year. You will be qualified to teach your two speciality subjects to honours leaving cert level, as well as science and mathematics to junior cert level. DCU also offers (DC205) physical education and biology.
NUI Maynooth is now offering a BSc in science education, a four-year degree for students who wish to become science teachers at second-level schools.
• Monday: science degrees
ADVICE PODCAST Listen or download the podcast for advice on how to complete the application form, and for an overview of the current CAO process, at www.ireland.com/education