In 2012 I led an international review panel that was asked to review the structure of initial teacher education in Ireland. This report that recommended bold changes in the provision of teacher education in Ireland can be read here. Five years after the government invited me to return to Ireland and evaluate the progress made since the recommendations of that review were released.
The Review that I conducted with Professor Áine Hyland, Emeritus Professor of Education at University College Cork, outlines the progress in the implementation of the structural reforms identified in the 2012 Report of the International Review Panel on the Structure of Initial Teacher Education (known as Sahlberg 1), by reference to the consolidation of the 19 discrete initial teacher education (ITE) providers to six centres of teaching. We concluded that significant progress has been made since 2012, including the full incorporation of DCU; St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra; Mater Dei Institute; and the Church of Ireland College of Education into DCU Institute of Education and of Froebel College of Teacher Education into Maynooth University. The incorporation of St Angela’s College, Sligo into NUI Galway is also nearing finalisation. Our Review compliments all of the centres of teaching excellence for their efforts to collaboratively work together, and for their commitment to implementing the wider reform agenda. Very well done indeed!
The Review also considers the effect of the reforms in creating the critical mass and the scale to enhance the quality of teacher education provision. It references the anecdotal evidence provided by the centres to indicate the success of restructured ITE programmes. However, it identifies that there is a lack of empirical evidence to assess the impact of restructured ITE programmes, and states that this should be addressed promptly. It suggests that a survey instrument should be designed to monitor the progress and further development of ITE in Ireland.
Review report can be read here: https://hea.ie/assets/uploads/2019/05/HEA-Structure-of-Teacher-Education.pdf
I want to han all teacher education institutions and Professor Áine Hyland for professional collaboration with this review. I wish you all the best on road ahead.