Concern at standard of Gaeltacht courses

Future primary teachers have called for better checks on standards of residential Irish language courses they must spend thousands of euro to attend.

The Government withdrew a fees subsidy for Gaeltacht placements of hundreds of student teachers per year in 2012, saving close to €900,000 annually.

Students have raised concerns in recent weeks, backed by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, about having to pay €1,500. The fee for two fortnight -long placements is in addition to college fees of €2,750 for those who do not get a student grant.

The duration of these courses was also increased two years ago, from a previous one-off three-week stay, under new Teaching Council rules on primary teaching qualifications.

But students at Mary Immaculate College of Education (MIC) - one of the two largest teacher training colleges - also say they are unhappy with the standard of some Gaeltacht courses, and how standards are assessed and monitored.

“Without even looking at the costs, when you’re telling students this is a compulsory element of their course which they have to do to be able to register and work as a teacher, it has to be of the highest standard just like any other module,” said MIC Students Union president Niall Carmody.

While many were very satisfied with their courses, he said some questioned standards and suggested high numbers of tutors were second-level teachers. A working group which set out the placement requirements in 2012 said they should be taught by primary teachers, insofar as possible.

The new Gaeltacht course charge and the longer placement were both introduced for those starting primary teaching degrees in 2012.

MIC told the Irish Examiner students are free to choose from any one of 16 approved Gaeltacht language schools, in Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Mayo, Waterford and the Aran Islands. It said all providers were assessed against criteria that include guidelines in the Gaeltacht placement working group.

“MIC continues to monitor and review the quality of all its programmes, including any content provided by external contractors as is the case with the Gaeltacht placements,” a spokesperson told the Irish Examiner.

It is conducting a quality review process surrounding placements and sought detailed feedback from students who took part to date. The kind of action, if any, taken in response to any criticisms was not specified.

The Department of Education said quality assurance concerns should be taken up directly with course providers in the first instance, or the Teaching Council, or both. The council said quality assurance is up to each teacher -training college, which must report on their co-ordination of Gaeltacht courses as part of the council’s periodic reviews of teacher education qualifications.

The department said it will not be restoring the subsidy. Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan has said students qualifying for a maintenance grant can apply for a field trip grant.

Student Universal Support Ireland paid the extra grant to 212 students last year, although unknown numbers of first-year students may also have got it from other grant-awarding bodies.

Mr Carmody said students struggle to fund placements, some having to take leave from part-time jobs or quit.