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STUDENTS TEACHERS MAY soon undergo mandatory placement training in special education classes, according to proposals by education minister Helen McEntee.
In the context of a nationwide shortage for teachers trained to educate a growing number of special schools and classes, the minister hopes the introduction of mandatory placement will reduce the number of teachers that require additional training.
This morning’s proposal has been welcomed by teaching and special needs assistants unions and Sinn Féin as the first step towards tackling the issue and have called for the proposal to be quickly expanded.
General Secretary of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) John Boyle told RTÉ Radio One’s Today with Claire Byrne programme that his union has been calling for the introduction of the measure for some time now.
While he said while the INTO welcomes the proposal, existing teachers should also be accommodated for so that a greater number of them have the correct level of training to be able to provide special education in schools.
Boyle suggested that teachers should be given two extra training days per school year, with one dedicated to upskilling them in special education. He said it would reduce the waiting times for new teachers and strain on external courses.
“It’ll take 80 years before every teacher is trained at this rate,” Boyle claimed, as the main course to achieve a diploma in special education currently only has 250 places per year.
Sinn Féin TD and education spokesperson Darren O’Rourke said the proposal should be extended to include training for all teachers, including those currently in post, to provide educators with hands-on experience.
Fórsa, the union representing 14,000 special needs assistants in schools, has also welcomed the proposal and outlined its request that the additional training be matched with appropriate modules on university courses.
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Helen mc enree & a very sensible positive idea in the same sentence? Is it April 1sr already?
@Mary Linton: You would think if a pilot kept on crashing planes, they’d be sacked, but the same ineptitude is fine in politics, apparently!
@Mary Linton: I know right? I thought DOGE were cutting all this.
@Louis Jacob: Apologies, lost me there….. isn’t DOGE an American financial accountability department?
@Mary Linton: you’re a bore
Seems reasonable.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: you obviously don’t havw school going children . These children need massive supports some are non verbal some very verbal so putting in a student. Teacher is like letting a trainee electrician loose to rewire a hole house . No experience .
@Karen Marten: if alternative is no teacher, then put the kids first. Cop on.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: you have no cop on how would you .
@Karen Marten: are u a parent. I doubt it you know nothing.
@Karen Marten: I don’t think theyre asking the trainee teachers to run the school either. The point is to train teachers withing the special school setting. Can’t see any issue with this.
@Mindful Muinteoir: When I taught deaf and special needs children trainee teachers would spend time in the classroom with us. This showed them how we sometimes have to adapt our teaching to include all children equally. It also gave them an insight into what being a SEN teacher requires should they wish to go down that path.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: So you don’t believe that children with special needs deserve to have teachers who are specifically trained to teach these children and to meet their needs? Shameful!!
@Mindful Muinteoir: Wow, how about they get primary school teachers to start lecturing in third level institutions? And don’t tell me that’s not the same thing, it is.
@Ann Reddin: Steady up. It’s placement as part of their studies and they would be supervised by qualified teachers at all times. Experience is the best way to learn anything. This is a positive step
Anything Master minded by this silly woman, is bound to be a disaster!
@Brian Hunt: Play the ball Brian.
It’s a great idea.
They’re already doing it so makes sense.
Any measure that will address the early intervention for those with Special Needs in schools must be welcomed
Great idea, but unions won’t allow it as they’ll put teachers first as usual.
@Allo Allo: unfair.
@Allo Allo: you obviously did’nt bother to read the article. The INTO came up with this idea first, you gobdaw.
‘Something something… teachers bad’ and so on
@Allo Allo: how is it a great idea these trainee teachers can barely teach mainstream kids my child is in 6th class a crucial year a a newly grad teacher was put to them be more suited with junior or senior infants. So how is it a good idea to do the same with special need kids. No no plenty of years of experience is needed for that type of teaching
And where are these people being forced into these positions going to live?
Pay them properly so they decide to stay in Ireland and after turning the masters in education into a cash cow students spend €10000 to qualify
I agree with this. I only said something similar a few weeks ago. Main stream teachers just think 1 way and that’s all kids are the same when that’s not the case. I’ve seen it so many times and it’s annoying.
@darren guthrie: absolute nonsense statement
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