Quinn tells 'highly feminised' teachers conference of Honours Maths qualifying plan
Ruairi Quinn has provoked a strong reaction from primary school teachers by suggesting that Honours Maths should be a minimum requirement to qualify.
The Education Minister would like to see teachers, the majority of whom are women, take Honours Maths for their Leaving Cert.
General Secretary of the INTO Sheila Nunan does not think the Minister meant to reinforce stereotypes that men are better than women at maths, but she said what happens at third level is what is important for teachers.
Ms Nunan said: "Young women and girls didn't have the option of doing Honours Maths, I mean there was a whole generation of Irish women who didn't have an option of Honours Maths in secondary school.
"So, I think the better judgement of it would be their skill and knowledge in maths as they are exiting the degree, not as an impediment to entry."
However, the 800 delegates at the INTO's annual conference in Kilkenny were less than pleased with the Minister's comments.
