A Review Paper on Thinking and Policies Relating to Teacher Education in Ireland.

Education as an academic and research subject, and teacher education as a professional education programme have had a chequered history in Ireland 1. As a process of review and re-appraisal of teacher education programmes and qualifications is being undertaken by the Teaching Council it would seem useful to refer succinctly to some recent aspects of that history in establishing a context for potential new developments. The decade 1965 to 1975 (approx) was the last time fundamental restructuring of teacher education took place. This coincided with a period of major social, economic and cultural change in Ireland, when a vibrant national economy provided resources and motivation for significant reforms, not dissimilar to the period from the middle nineties to 2007. A number of reports were issued which had important implications for education and teacher education including the Investment in Education Report (1966), the Commission on Higher Education Report (1967), the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Report on Teacher Education (1970) and the Report on An Chomhairle Mhúinteoiréachta (1974)