HC Deb 12 June 1899 vol 72 cc902-3
MR. DAVITT

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many second division of first class teachers applied this year to the Commissioners of National Education, Ireland, for admission to attend the July examination for first of first; and how many of these teachers are to be admitted; whether this number, in comparison with the former, is proportionately below the average for preceding years; and if so, can the Commissioners state why; what are the conditions necessary to entitle candidates for admission to the examination for the first division of first class; will he explain why this class of teachers have been kept in ignorance of their admission or non-admission for two months longer this year than heretofore; and whether, considering this prolonged delay, and the hardship inflicted on these teachers thereby, the Lord Lieutenant will advise the Commissioners to admit to the examination all those teachers who duly applied for entrance.

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

The number of applications referred to in the first paragraph was 134; permission to attend the examination was given in 78 of these. The proportion of admissions is higher this year than in previous years. Candidates for the first division of first class must be already in the second division of that class, and they may then obtain the higher grade either without examination after giving seven consecutive years of highly efficient service or by passing a special examination after three consecutive years of such service. Candidates proceeding under the revised programme have not been kept in ignorance of their admission longer this year than usual. In the case of those taking advantage of the recent concession to proceed for examination under the old programme this year, notice was unavoidably delayed pending the receipt of Treasury sanction. Permission to attend the examination is always contingent on the recommendation of the inspectors for efficiency in the schools, and the Commissioners cannot agree to any departure from this condition on the present occasion.