I was delighted that the Marino Teaching Access Programme was launched today.
The aim of the programme is to provide a pathway for students in disadvantaged secondary schools into the primary teaching profession.
This is an initiative that I have been working hard on for the last number of years and am truly grateful that Northside Partnership and Marino Institute of Education are supporting the project.
Over 20 students from nine Northside DEIS secondary schools have been invited to take part in the course, which will focus primarily on improving their Irish language skills.
Higher Level Gaeilge is a minimum requirement for accessing teacher training colleges, and this has often proven to be a barrier for advancement into teaching for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In my experience as a teacher and principal in the North Inner City, there are hundreds of excellent students who would make incredible teachers but who need that little extra help and encouragement to ensure they can fulfil their potential.
Today was a truly proud day as students embarked on the course facilitated by the staff of Marino College of Education and funded by Northside Partnership.
Without the support of Noel Kelly of Northside Partnership and Gene Mehigan from Marino IE this initiative would never have gotten off the ground.
Some students may consider a different path over the coming years but our objective is to offer students choices that they wouldn’t otherwise have.
Hopefully in years to come a number of these students will become the role-models of the future in classrooms across the Northside.