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Press Release

MIE bucks trend for primary teacher education, CAO figures reveal

Education provider reports 35% increase in first preferences for B.Ed. in Primary Teaching

Marino Institute of Education (MIE) has reported a significant year-on-year increase in first preference applications for its Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) course. From July 2022 to July 2023, the number of first preference applications for general entry for the course increased by 35%.

 

While MIE has marked a significant bounce in first preferences for its B.Ed. (Primary Teaching) course, demand for primary teaching nationally remains behind where it was in 2022. Overall, first preferences now stand at 2,450, down more than 5% on July 2022, when 2,592 first preference applications were recorded.

 

This year’s figures are based on data collected by 1st July, the final deadline for course applications under the CAO ‘change of mind’ process. In the context of national staffing shortages in schools, the CAO figures provide an indication of the future supply of teaching staff in Ireland. Earlier this year, Minister for Education, Norma Foley, announced 610 additional places nationally on primary initial teacher education (ITE) programmes over two years, including 110 additional places at MIE for 2023, and a further 80 for 2024.  

 

Commenting, President of MIE, Professor Teresa O’Doherty said: “We are delighted to see such a big bounce in first-preference demand for our Bachelor of Education course in primary teaching this year. Signs of the increase were evident in early February 2023, when initial preferences for our course revealed an increase of almost one-fifth in first preferences from July 2022, and we are very pleased that the demand increased further in the five-month period since then.

 

“With around 130 places available on the course for the 2023 intake, we expect that most applicants who accept places on the course will be doing so as their first choice. This is a fantastic endorsement of our ITE offering, and we believe it is reflective of our high standard of education, our small and welcoming campus, and the friendly and supportive environment at MIE. Our vibrant clubs and societies – focused on sports, traditional music, drama and musicals – and our strong focus on the Irish language are also a draw for those who choose to study at MIE.”

 

Apart from its B.Ed. (Primary Teaching) programme, MIE also offers a Bachelor of Education through the medium of Irish (BOTMG), which is the only undergraduate degree in primary teaching in Ireland that is delivered exclusively through the medium of Irish; a Professional Master of Education (Primary Education); as well as a range of further education-focused undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.