asked the Minister for Education when he will authorise the award of a certificate to remedial teachers who have successfully completed their special courses.

Teachers who attend these courses are given certificates of attendance. The question of the form of the certificate is at present under consideration in the context of this year's courses.

Would the Minister indicate who is actually considering it and if he has referred it to the National Council for Educational Awards?

No, it is in the Department.

Would the Minister consider referring it to the council for assessment and validation and for the award of a certificate?

No, I do not think so. That would change the whole type of course involved. The basis of the present course and the form of the certificate given are matters for the Department.

In the interests of rational procedure would it not be better if the council, which has been established for this purpose of assessment and validation of certificates, were charged with this responsibility rather than somebody in the Department of Education?

I do not think so. This is quite a different thing. It is an in-course and that would be a matter for the Department, not for the NCEA.

The Minister says there is consideration to be given to it. The last reply I got six months ago or so was that there was no intention of giving a certificate. I gather from what the Minister has said now that there is a strong possibility that the certificate will be given.

The certificate currently being given is a certificate of attendance. What is being considered is to make that a more formal certificate of attendance but not giving it the status of a diploma.

I am not using the word "diploma", I am using the word "certificate". Is the Minister saying that all he is doing is to change the format of a certificate of attendance?

Yes.

That is useless.

It is a more formal certificate of attendance.