Advice wanted on entry routes to secondary teaching

ThePiedPiper

Hi all,
I've got a degree in Commerce from UCD and a professional accountancy qualification. I've been considering teaching as a career and have been trying to find out info on the entry routes but finding it difficult to do so.

As there are apparently too many accounting/economics/business teachers out there at the moment, would it be possible for me to do a PGCE or HDip in Irish as it would be quite a strong point for me and I've been told there's a shortage of Irish teachers. My hunch is telling me I'd need an under-grad in Irish?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Toto Wolfcastle

You will need a degree in Irish. These are the specific requirements:

Applicants must provide officially certified evidence of satisfactory achievement in primary degree studies (or equivalent) as outlined hereunder:

* The study of Irish as a major subject in the degree extending over at least three years and of the order of 30% at a minimum of that period.
* Details of the degree course content to show that the knowledge and understanding required to teach Irish to the highest level in post-primary education has been acquired.
* The study of a substantial body of relevant literature through the medium of Irish as an integral part of the degree course supported by the list of authors and texts studied throughout the course.
* Residential experience of at least three months in an area designated as a Gaeltacht area.
* Explicit details of standards achieved in degree studies in Irish with at least an overall Pass result in the examinations in Irish.

ThePiedPiper

Thanks for your reply Janeybabe,

So, I would be better off sticking to Accounting as the subject to do the PGCE in, in that case. Another 3 years in college simply isn't an option.

In your opinion, would doing the PGCE through Irish in Queens make me more employable as an Accounting/Business teacher than the normal through English route? Would this offer the possiblility of teaching Irish as a second subject for Junior Cert, etc?

Thanks again for your advice - I've been getting so many views from various people, it's nice to get the facts.

Forest.

Toto Wolfcastle

If you did the PGCE through Irish you wouldn't be qualified to teach Irish. However, some principals do employ those who aren't qualified, particularly if there are no other suitable applicants. You would never get a job if up against a qualified Irish teacher, and the Teaching Council may well clamp down on the hiring of unqualified teachers. You may never get work as a Irish teacher. That said, if your Irish is good enough, there is no harm in doing the dip through Irish. It can only help really. You can do it through Irish in Galway too.

awny

Would you consider the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Business) in the University of Limerick?

ThePiedPiper

Limerick wouldn't really be a goer for me unfortunately. Myself, wife, child and soon to be next child live in Louth so I'd want to stay living at home rather than moving away. That's why Queens or possibly Trinity are the options I'm considering.