§ MR. DOOGAN (Tyrone, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if it has come to his knowledge that, under a recent regulation of the Commissioners, those Irish National teachers who were classed first division of second class since July 1897 are eligible for promotion to first class without examination, on a basis of two years' highly efficient service, whereas teachers holding the same rank but classed prior to 1897 are excluded from the benefits of promotion for efficient service however long or meritorious that service may have been; is he aware that the bulk of the teachers are dissatisfied with this new rule, and that they have, through the executive of their organisation protested against it; and whether, in the interests of a considerable number of teachers and the greater efficiency of the schools, he will make representations to the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland with a view to placing all the teachers who are classed first division of second, whether under the old rule or the new rule, on precisely the same footing?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe teachers who obtained first division of second class by examination on the new programme are the only teachers eligible for promotion to first class on the basis of service alone, and as the examination on the new programme requires a percentage of 65 of possible marks in order that a candidate may be qualified for promotion to the first class on the basis of efficient service alone, while only 50 per cent, was required for attaining to the position of first division of the second class under the old programme, the position of those two classes of candidates for first class is hardly comparable. The examination for the first division of second class under the new programme is practically equivalent to the old examination of first class. All teachers are at liberty to enter for this new examination, and, if they obtain 65 per cent., can ob- 1288 tain promotion to first class on efficient service alone. It is true that teachers' associations, excluding from view the higher qualifications required by the new programme, have on several occasions represented that both of those classes of candidates should be placed on the same footing. The Commissioners do not consider that it would be in the interests of the efficiency of the schools, as it would be plainly inconsistent with the circumstances already mentioned, to alter the conditions of promotion now in force.