§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on teacher recruitment in Northern Ireland. [129824]
§ Jane KennedyThe level of intakes to teacher education courses is determined annually by the Department of Education, with the aim of maintaining a reasonable match between the numbers being trained and the projected numbers of teaching vacancies. Currently these courses are oversubscribed with around five applications for each available place.
Research has been commissioned by the Department to test the proposition that there is or will be a shortfall in the recruitment of teachers in any subject area in post-primary schools in Northern Ireland. The research findings are expected in October.