Preasráitis
Minister McHugh welcomes third regional teacher supply focus group taking place in Dublin today
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
The Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh TD, today (Thursday December 6th) welcomed the third of 5 regional teacher supply focus groups to be held under the Teacher Supply Action Plan, which the Minister recently launched.
The development of the Action Plan was led by the Teacher Supply Steering Group, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department, in recognition of the significant challenges for some schools experience in recruiting teachers. At primary level, the recruitment of substitute teachers is problematic while at post primary the recruitment of teachers in certain specific subject areas, such as STEM, modern languages, Irish and home economics is proving difficult.
Tonight’s event, which is being held in Dublin, will provide an opportunity for principals, teachers and parents in the east of the country to consider and respond to the Action Plan and to contribute new ideas. It is intended to have representation from secondary school students in the focus groups in early 2019. The students will be given the opportunity to voice their concerns and make recommendations in relation to teacher supply.
Minister McHugh said:
“Addressing the current and future challenges in teacher supply is a national priority which also has a regional dimension. Finding solutions to these challenges will require the input and cooperation of stakeholders at all levels and I wish to acknowledge the invaluable contribution already made by our many stakeholders to date. Tonight’s event is an opportunity for teachers and parents at grassroots level to contribute to our understanding of the issues and to contribute to the solutions we require.”
Two more regional focus groups are planned before the end of January 2019 in Kilkenny and Donegal.
ENDS
A copy of the Teacher Supply Action Plan is available.
The Steering Group on Teacher Supply is leading on a programme of actions to address concerns about the supply of teachers. The Group held its first meeting on 26 March 2018.
The Steering Group leads on the identification of issues, the development of a programme of actions on teacher supply and will oversee its implementation.
An Implementation Group supports the work of the Steering Group.
The Group is also supported in its work by a number of working groups which consider and report on particular issues. The working groups report to the Implementation Group.
Consultation with partners and stakeholders will be a central feature of the way the Steering Group works.
The work is supported by a dedicated secretariat within the department.
The Steering Group will:
The Steering Group is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department and includes members of the department’s Management Board, representatives of the School Management bodies, senior nominees of the HEA, the Teaching Council, the Irish Universities Association and the HEIs and an independent expert.
Consultative forums are planned to ensure that all stakeholders are kept aware of the measures being considered and implemented and to facilitate their input and participation.
The first consultative forum took place on Thursday 8 November in the Davenport Hotel, Dublin. A number of regional focus group meetings are also planned over the coming months.
The Action Plan published contains a range of priority actions identified through the work of the Steering Group and engagement with stakeholders.
These actions are classified under four broad headings:
Actions include: