Moves to require all trainee teachers to complete work placements in special education settings, while a step in the right direction, must be extended to include training supports for existing teaching staff in our schools, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins.
Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said:
“Proposed reforms in teacher training, which will include mandatory placements in special education, are long overdue and will help equip our future teachers with the tools and skills to assist the growing number of pupils with additional needs.
“However, I am concerned that in announcing this measure, Minister Helen McEntee has not sufficiently consulted with the Teaching Council of Ireland or Initial Teacher Education providers. In addition, we need to know if specific expertise will be brought in to provide student teachers with special education training or if it will just be a case of relying on placements.
“With a threefold increase in the prevalence of autism in the past decade, it is regrettable that successive governments did not act sooner to address the crisis in special education. While previous ministers sat on their hands, demand for special education classes skyrocketed, with desperate parents recently forced to hold a 24-hour protest outside the Department of Education to highlight the issue.
“Any measures to improve the future pipeline of teachers with special education experience must be accompanied by training and upskilling opportunities for existing teachers to allow them help children with additional needs to reach their full potential.
“In thousands of classrooms across the country, teachers with no prior training in special education are doing their best, in very difficult circumstances, to teach children with additional and often complex needs.
“This situation is not only unfair on those teachers not afforded appropriate training supports, but also on the pupils themselves, who deserve specialised education standards that will allow them to thrive.”
March 24, 2025