Reform of teacher training to focus on literacy and maths

MAJOR reforms of teacher training and class time dedicated to literacy and maths are to be introduced by Education Minister Mary Coughlan.

They include a renewed focus on schools and teachers continually assessing pupils’ literacy and numeracy in order to target resources and assistance at pupils who need most help.

The biggest move proposed by the Tánaiste is the extension of the Bachelor of Education (B Ed) degree, by which most primary teachers qualify from three to four years, with a revised focus on teaching literacy and numeracy. For second-level teachers, the Higher Diploma in Education course is to be extended from 18 months to two years.

Earlier this year, leading educationalist Dr Andy Burke described many aspects of the training programmes for primary teachers as dysfunctional, largely due to just 17 weeks being spent in classrooms before graduates begin their careers. He said the shortness of the B Ed course was harmful to student teachers’ professional development and suggested the creation of a four-year degree.

This echoed a 2001 expert group on primary teacher training to the Department of Education, something previous education minister Mary Hanafin said in 2006 was not necessary.

At school level, the plan published by Ms Coughlan recommends an extra three hours a week in primary schools for literacy and numeracy teaching, at the expense of time for other subjects. An ongoing review of junior cycle curriculum for second-level students would prioritise reform of the English curriculum to ensure literacy skills are prioritised, and the rollout of the Project Maths syllabus at second level would be continued.

“We need to place a relentless focus on the progress of every child and improving the core skills of literacy and numeracy in all stages of the educational system.

“Perhaps in recent years, we have expected the schools to deal with too broad a range of topics and issues,” she said.

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland general secretary Pat King said the plan would require adequate funding and that, while the proposed teacher development and curriculum reviews are needed, they would have little value to young people struggling to keep up in classes of more than 25 or 30 other adolescents. The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation has been seeking many of these measures for a number of years and particularly welcomed the proposed B Ed degree extension.