[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he two-year part-time Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching (PDMT) Level 8 has been approved by the Department of Education and Skills for a sixth cohort.

EPI•STEM, the National Centre for STEM Education at the University of Limerick (formerly NCE-MST) is pleased to announce this development which will commence in September 2017.

The Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching is fully funded by the Department of Education and Skills.

The programme is free to eligible post-primary teachers and is fully funded by the Department of Education and Skills as part of the national strategy to support the implementation of Project Maths and improve standards in mathematics education in post-primary schools by up skilling out-of-field teachers of mathematics.

Unqualified mathematics teachers who are teaching a minimum of one mathematics class per week can apply for this course.

The aims of the programme are to ensure that successful candidates:

• acquire the extensive and complex integrated knowledge base including mathematical and pedagogical knowledge that is necessary for effective mathematics teaching at post-primary level with special reference to Project Maths
• demonstrate an ability to integrate this mathematics knowledge for teaching into professional practice as mathematics teachers
• develop a high standard of practical competence in mathematics teaching as reflective practitioners during their programme of study.

Benefits of the Programme

Graduates from this programme constitute a very considerable contribution to mathematics teaching at Junior Cycle resulting in a better experience and outcome for all post-primary students. The programme and its graduates will contribute hugely to the further development and roll-out of the Project Maths curriculum at Junior and Senior Cycle as well as continued contribution to STEM education, future skills needs and the knowledge economy.

Application

Interested teachers can apply online at http://www.ul.ie/graduateschool/course/professional-diploma-mathematics-teaching-level-8.

Any queries in relation to the course can be directed to pdmt@ul.ie

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Interested in reading more? – To see how far we’ve come in relation to Computer Science check out this piece from 2011 – Science Education at a crossroad.

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