§ Mr. Copeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why a degree in education from the National University of Ireland is not considered by her Department to be as good as a teacher training course in the United Kingdom.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe recognition of teachers for employment in maintained schools in England and Wales is governed by the Schols Regulations 1959, as amended. Regulation 16(2)(a) prescribes that a course of teacher training completed outside the Untied Kingdom must be comparable to a course approved by the Secretary of State and completed within the United Kingdom. Courses leading to the degree of Bachelor of Education of the National University of Ireland are not accepted as they may be entered at an earlier age than in the United Kingdom, a wider range of subjects is studied and rather less time is devoted to the important matter of teaching practice.
§ Mr. Copeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which United Kingdom teaching qualifications are accepted by the Government of the Irish Republic as equivalent to their own; and which are not.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonI understand that, with very limited exceptions, competence in the Irish language is a requirement for teaching in State schools in the Republic of Ireland. But if this requirement is met, successful completion of a non-graduate teacher training course in England or Wales is accepted for primary school teaching; a United Kingdom university degree without teacher training is acceptable in secondary vocational schools, but in other secondary schools and in primary schools a graduate must have successfully completed training and the acceptability of training undertaken in the United Kingdom is decided individually.
§ Mr. Copeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the qualifications required to teach in each of the countries of the European Economic Community, showing in each case the number of years' study and the 571W amount of time spent in teaching practice in the classroom.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonFull details of the requirements of EEC member countries are not available, but I am sending the hon. Member a booklet produced by the European Communities information service which gives an outline of the situation in each country. In England and Wales qualified teacher status is normally obtained either by successfully completing a three-year training course leading to a non-graduate certificate of education, a three- or four-year Bachelor of Education course or a training course of one year for holders of a university degree. At least 15 weeks of teaching practice are normally included in non-graduate and BEd courses, and at least 10 weeks in postgraduate courses.