Unions express concern at training of primary teachers online

Niall Murray, Education Correspondent

Hibernia College has been offering internet-based tutorials as part of its graduate diploma in primary education, which took on its first 180 students last autumn and is interviewing candidates for the next intake in October.

Just under half the 18-month part-time course, with fees of almost €6,000, is done online and students must do at least 14 weeks of teaching practice to graduate. However, the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) has called any further intakes to be delayed until the course has been fully evaluated. The union’s general secretary, John Carr, made a submission to the Oireachtas Education Committee which held a discussion on online courses for training primary teachers yesterday.