Teacher Preparation in Northern Ireland

Séan Farren is currently a Visiting Professor at the School of Education, Ulster University. Northern Ireland. He was previously a Senior Lecture in the School where he was member for twenty-eight years. Prior to that he taught at second level in Sierra Leone, Switzerland and in the Republic of Ireland. He has also served as a member of Northern Ireland’s Legislative Assembly and was Minister of Employment and Learning in its Executive 1999-2002. He has written extensively on the history of education in Ireland and is author of The Politics of Irish Education.  Linda Clarke served as Head of the School of Education at Ulster University from 2009 to 2013 and is currently the Research Director for Education. Linda was the Northern Chair of SCoTENS between 2013 and 2016. She is currently Chair of UCETNI and is a member of the REF 2021 Sub-Panel for Education. Teresa O'Doherty is President of Marino Institute of Education, Republic of Ireland. She qualified as a teacher in 1984 and taught at primary level until 1997, when she was appointed Lecturer in Education at the University of Limerick where she also served as Assistant Dean. In 2003 she was appointed as Head of Education and later Dean of Education at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.

This book explores the history, policy, and future of teacher education in Northern Ireland, focusing on historical developments across and preceding the history of the jurisdiction and more recent and current policy, practice, and directions. It illustrates how the process of transformation of teacher education policy occurs, and how it is shaped by cultural, social, and economic factors, along with local institutions and national politics. It details the historical development of initial teacher education within Northern Ireland from the 1800s to the present day and the parallel social and political developments, as well as the region’s society and education system. It also discusses recent policy developments and the impact of contemporary global education reform, as well as reviews of teacher education over the last 15 years, and future issues.

• Chapter 1. Establishing an Education System 1800-1850 Chapter 2. Development Amid Controversy Chapter 3. New Beginnings: 1922-1933 Chapter 4. Consolidation and Further Development: 1933-1970 Chapter 5. Contraction and Controversy: 1970-1984 Chapter 6. Contraction and Controversy: 1970-1984 Chapter 7. Teacher preparation in the early years of the twenty-first century: 2000-2018 Chapter 8. Future Issues