The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, launched DCU’s new part-time teacher training qualification
Tuesday 25 April

James Norman, Course Coordinator, Prof Anne Scott, Deputy President, The Taoiseach,Bertie Ahern, Gerry McNamara, Head of School and Joe O'Hara, Head of Teacher Education.

The School of Education Studies at DCU launched Ireland’s first part-time training programme for teachers in second-level schools. The Graduate Diploma in Education has been developed primarily for people who are already working in second-level schools but who need to obtain a recognised teaching qualification.

The Graduate Diploma in Education is recognised by the Department of Education & Science on the same basis as the traditional H. Dip. in Ed. Programmes in that graduates of the programme will be able to seek permanent positions in second-level schools and colleges of further education. However, the part-time nature of this programme will allow students to continue to work full-time while studying at DCU.

The co-ordinators of the programme describe it as being rooted in a “reflective practitioner” approach and say that the programme is unique in that it will encourage a closer relationship between the work undertaken in school and the academic work completed in DCU.

The programme will begin in September 2006 and will take place on two evenings per week over two years.