Training plan seeks to improve teaching standards [IrishTimes]
- Published: 24 November 2010
MAJOR CHANGES in teacher training from 2012 have been unveiled by Minister for Education Mary Coughlan to boost literacy and maths skills in Irish schools.
The initiative comes after a new report found over 14 per cent of English and mathematics lessons were unsatisfactory. The report, based on unannounced inspections by the Department of Education, is critical of teaching standards in many schools.
It found that teacher preparation for classes was unsatisfactory for 25 per cent of all lessons. It also says teacher assessment of pupils was unsatisfactory in 33 per cent of cases.
A separate report by the Educational Research Centre at St Patrick’s teacher training college in Dublin identified weaknesses in primary school pupils’ comprehension of English. It also highlighted poor performance in problem-solving in maths at primary level.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
