SAHLBERG II – Review of the Structure of Initial Teacher Education in Ireland
In 2018, a review of the structure of Initial Teacher Education in Ireland was conducted by Prof. Pasi Sahlberg, Professor of Education Policy at the Gonski Institute for Education at the University of New South Wales, Australia, and advised by Prof. Áine Hyland, Emeritus Professor of Education at University College Cork.
The Review Report, published in May 2019, detailed the progress of 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.
The Review complimented all of the centres of teaching excellence for their efforts to collaboratively work together, and for their commitment to implementing the wider reform agenda in a relatively short timeframe and in a challenging economic environment. The Review identified that the centres of teaching were emerging from a process of major reform in the context of restructuring, up to and including incorporation, as recommended by Sahlberg 1 and in line with the vision set out in the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030.
The Report noted the following in relation to the centre which comprised the then Shannon Consortium Partners, namely MIC, UL and LIT: “In Limerick, there have been significant developments since 2012... MIC–incorporating St. Patrick’s in Thurles, now provides ITE across the continuum of early years, primary and post-primary as well as providing CPD, Masters and doctoral programmes. MIC, UL and LIT collaborate on research, CPD and Masters and Doctorate programmes through the National Institute for Studies in Education (NISE) and it is anticipated that collaboration between MIC and UL will grow and strengthen in the years ahead.”
The Report recommended that MIC “be recognised as a free-standing provider of ITE and that issues relating to inconsistency of staffing arrangements across the sector be addressed.’” The Report further noted MIC’s investment in facilities which impact on the quality of ITE student experience and opportunities for postgraduate study in education with the major refurbishment of the John Henry Newman Building to support research and postgraduate studies and that “the meetings with the leadership and staff of MIC, UL and LIT were positive and constructive and there was a sense of goodwill on all sides and a palpable willingness to work together.”
In May 2019, the Department of Education and Skills committed to developing a comprehensive policy statement on foot of the publication of the report, which would provide renewed clarity to the sector in respect of the future direction of initial teacher education.
In March 2023, Minister for Education, Norma Foley, published the Initial Teacher Education Policy.
