In The Picture — 13 September 2021

Student Teachers for Irish-medium Education

2021 Student Teachers for Irish-medium Education

Twenty students have started a year-long programme of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) for Irish-medium primary schools at St Mary’s University College.

The PGCE programme has attracted successful graduates from a wide range of universities and places on the island of Ireland including Cork, Dublin, Belfast and Derry.

The students completed a Welcome Week of induction activities starting Monday, September 6th and for the next two weeks they will participate in an online Gaeltacht experience which is normally held on a residential basis in County Donegal but restricted this year due to the pandemic.

When students return to the College there will be classes in the Irish language, educational studies and pedagogy for the primary school curriculum.
The PGCE programme also involves three substantial periods of school placement. The students have graduated from:

• Queens University
• Ulster University at Derry and Belfast
• Dublin City University
• National University of Ireland at Galway
• Hamilton College, New York State, USA
• St Mary’s University College, Belfast