Concerns have been raised regarding proposals to raise the standard of Irish required for trainee primary teachers in Ireland.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has followed the example of Labour backbencher Aodhan O Riordain and suggested Teaching Council plans to set a higher standard for Irish could result in students from regions with lower Leaving Cert performance being excluded from the teaching profession, the Irish Independent reports.

Mr Quinn stated: "Raising the threshold of competency in Irish is not going to facilitate those kind of people becoming teachers." 

As part of the new plans, the Teaching Council - which is the regulator of the teaching profession in Ireland - would like to see the minimum Irish entry requirement for trainees standing at Higher Level B rather than its current Higher Level C grade.

Mr Quinn claimed this change would create a one size fits all approach for the system, but explained a range of different teachers is what is required for such a diverse society.

Written by Donal Walsh

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