We talked to teachers about the importance of diversity in the classroom and why everyone deserves to be seen.
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Ntube Ntoko (Student teacher, post-primary):
Basically I was doing a course in Cavan Institute which was midwifery and then when the maths teacher came in I just lit up like everything just came back from when i was back in school everything was so easy and I was like I’m more excited about doing maths than I am doing nursing so I said I’m surely doing the wrong thing.
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I feel like my teachers always believed in me and they always said you’re more than capable of what you think you can. Even when I’d be frustrated they were like “Ntube it’s you!” “You can do this” so because of that belief in me, I kind of believed in myself.
When I walk into school and you see an African student, they look at you and they nod. It’s just that nod, I don’t know how to explain it but you just see someone that’s like you and you nod your head even if you don’t know them.
Even with some other minorities there’s overlap in a sense you know with the minority thing so they kind of like also embrace you because they see you something in you that is like them.
I actually love it because I mean like if I can do it then so they can. If I can inspire anyone to see me and see that, “Okay I can be like her” then I’ve done part of my job as a teacher you know to just open another door for them.
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Teaching transforms. Shape the future.
There are many pathways to becoming a teacher, whether you choose to do an undergraduate or post-graduate programme of Initial Teacher Education. To gain access to the programmes of initial teacher education, you must meet the minimum entry requirements, which are set by the Minister for Education, in consultation with the Teaching Council.
Further Information
Select an option below for further information on becoming a primary, post-primary or further education teacher.
Primary
To become a primary teacher in Ireland, you must complete a programme of initial teacher education (ITE).
Post-primary
To become a post-primary teacher in Ireland, you must complete a programme of initial teacher education (ITE).
Further Education
Applicants wishing to register as a teacher in the Further Education sector must meet the requirements set out in Route 3 of the Teaching Council Registration Regulations
Financial supports
The main financial support available for eligible students attending full-time further and higher education courses is the student grant, which may include a maintenance grant or a fee grant, depending on eligibility.
Further information on bursaries and other financial supports and the criteria for the Free Fees Scheme are available at studentfinance.ie.
Other useful links:
- Information on other scholarship and bursary programmes can be found on gov.ie/dfheris
- The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), Ireland’s national awarding authority for all higher and further education grants.
- The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) is a dedicated fund, broken into three strands, committed to increasing participation by under-represented groups in higher education.