The Teacher Upskilling Study Report 2025

In November 2020, the Department of Education and Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science launched three post-primary teacher upskilling programmes: the Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching (PDMT), Professional Diploma for Teaching Physics (PDiTP) and the Higher Diploma in Spanish for Teaching (HDSPT). The aim of these programmes was to address teacher shortages in priority subject areas.

In July 2024, the Department of Education and Youth commissioned an external evaluation to examine the design, implementation, and outcomes of the programmes. The subsequent evaluation, termed The Teacher Upskilling Programmes Study, adopted a case-study approach (Stufflebeam, 2001).

The analysis for the evaluation drew on programme documents, survey data from programme participants, delivery staff and administrators, and interviews with programme participants and Directors.