PE teachers want cert status

DELEGATES AT the Physical Education Association of Ireland's recent annual general meeting voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion which stated that "the subject area of PE ought to be a subject for certification".

The last time this issue was put to a vote by the PEAI was in 1988; the outcome than was in favour of certifying PE at junior cycle only. Concerns that PE is now dropped after the Junior Cert in many schools may have helped prompt the change of heart.

In addition to the issue of certification, the point was made strongly by delegates that PE must become a compulsory part of the second-level curriculum. Grainne O'Donovan chief administrator with the PEAI says: "It is PEAI policy that this ought to be the case, and the association will continue to fight for this - while also pursuing a relevant and fair system of certification for the subject."

A new PE syllabus is being developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. NCCA chief executive Albert O Ceallaigh says the council is working closely with the Department of Education and is currently exploring the possibility of getting a pilot project off the ground in a small number of schools.

One of the issues to be addressed is the assessment of the PE. While the NCCA has made no commitment either way, the pilot will explore the question. Possible implications of the new curriculum include an increased time allocation to PE and, inevitably, there will be issues about finance.

Alice Prendergast, TUI president, says the union is in full support of the position taken at the PEAI conference. We have particular problems in our third-level sector with regard to PE teachers. In some RTCs and the DIT, the Department of Education is refusing to consider any promotion for PE teachers, despite both union and management backing for such promotions.