Training of teachers in 22 colleges is excessive and wasteful, says Quinn

The training of teachers in 22 different colleges is wasteful in a country this size, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has said.

He told TDs and senators there are too many courses doing the same thing, particularly when compared to other countries. There are five colleges providing training for primary teachers and 17 others offer courses for second-level teaching.

Mr Quinn told the Oireachtas Education Committee his officials have looked at international best practice. The minister cited the example of Singapore, which he said has a similar population but just one institution to train teachers.