Country information for Ireland - Teacher education for inclusive education

Teacher Education Section of the Department of Education and Skills

The Teacher Education Section of the Department of Education is responsible for supporting the development of a comprehensive national approach to teachers’ professional development. The section’s remit includes programmes delivered by the Colleges of Education, the education departments within colleges and universities and courses delivered via the National Council for Special Education.

Combined postgraduate diploma for teachers involved in learning support and special education

The Department of Education and Skills funds these postgraduate programmes. About 300 training places for teachers are available annually across seven different third-level colleges/universities. The programmes provide substantial theoretical and practical continuing professional development for teachers working with learners with special educational needs or who require learning support.

The programmes run for one academic year, with a total of eight weeks’ release from schools/centres for attendance at the relevant programme venue. The remainder of the academic year involves teaching and supervised teaching practice in the participants’ own educational settings.

The colleges/universities provide qualifications to successful participants, which the Department of Education and Skills recognises for learning support teachers and/or resource teachers in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, and teachers in special schools/classes.

Last updated 23/09/2020