Education as an academic and research subject, and teacher education as a professional
education programme have had a chequered history in Ireland 1. As a process of review
and re-appraisal of teacher education programmes and qualifications is being undertaken
by the Teaching Council it would seem useful to refer succinctly to some recent aspects
of that history in establishing a context for potential new developments. The decade
1965 to 1975 (approx) was the last time fundamental restructuring of teacher education
took place. This coincided with a period of major social, economic and cultural change
in Ireland, when a vibrant national economy provided resources and motivation for
significant reforms, not dissimilar to the period from the middle nineties to 2007. A
number of reports were issued which had important implications for education and
teacher education including the Investment in Education Report (1966), the Commission
on Higher Education Report (1967), the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Report on
Teacher Education (1970) and the Report on An Chomhairle Mhúinteoiréachta (1974)
