Teachers, Teacher Education, and Professional Development
Teaching in Ireland is an all-graduate profession. Since 2012, initial primary teacher education is completed through a four year, full time Bachelor of Education degree or a two year, postgraduate diploma in education. The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession with which all teachers in state funded schools are required to register. This involves completing a national induction program comprising a minimum of 20 hours and a probation period that includes at least 100 days of teaching service followed by an evaluation by an inspector with the Department of Education and Skills. All qualified primary teachers must be able to teach the full curriculum through English or Irish.
For post-primary teachers, a concurrent route to a teaching qualification is offered for a broad range of programs, typically having practical, workshop, and laboratory elements. A consecutive route for a post-primary teaching qualification is a two year, postgraduate professional diploma in education.
Teacher Education Specific to Reading
At the primary level, all mainstream teachers provide reading instruction, and the teaching of reading is a key element of initial teacher education programs. Many teachers of students with special education needs hold postgraduate certificates or diplomas in learning support or special needs education. Primary teachers at socioeconomically disadvantaged schools may receive targeted training through programs such as Reading Recovery and First Steps.
Requirements for Ongoing Professional Development in Reading for Teachers
Although teachers are not required to participate in professional development, they are encouraged to do so. A national professional development program to support the implementation of the new language curriculum for the early years of primary school is underway during 2015–2018. Over this period, teachers in all primary schools are expected to take advantage of approximately three days of professional development related to the new curriculum.
Data from PIRLS 2011 indicated that teachers in Ireland were below average in terms of participation in professional development related to literacy. More recent reports suggest that while participation remains relatively limited, the number of teachers who do not participate in any form of professional development has declined.16,17