Written answers

Tuesday, 15 June 2010

Department of Education and Science

Teaching Qualifications

8:00 am

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 481: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if a person with a teaching qualification from a university (details supplied) is unable to register with the Teaching Council here; the reason graduates of this university are unable to register as teachers; and her plans to resolve this difficulty. [25071/10]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the recognition of teacher qualifications in this State is now a matter for the Teaching Council, the body with statutory responsibility for establishing and maintaining standards in the teaching profession.

The Teaching Council is also the designated competent authority for the recognition and assessment of qualifications and registration of teachers at Primary and Post - Primary levels under European Union legislation.

The Teaching Council has a statutory responsibility to cooperate with its equivalent organisation in the Northern Ireland (the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI)) and there is ongoing communication between the two Councils.

In order to be eligible to be registered as a teacher in this State, applicants must hold qualifications recognised for registration purposes by the Teaching Council. Where qualifications are awarded outside of the State and are not automatically recognised by the Teaching Council, applicants are required to undergo an assessment of their qualifications to determine if they meet the Council's registration requirements.

Teachers who are registered in Northern Ireland are eligible for registration with the Teaching Council in this State. However, there are distinct differences in the forms of registration granted by the respective Teaching Councils in that the registration granted by the Teaching Council in Ireland is specific to the educational sector and to the curricular subjects at post-primary level. The assessment of qualifications carried out by the Teaching Council in Ireland allows the Council to ensure that the registration granted corresponds to the qualifications of the teacher.

My Department understands that the Teaching Council intends to meet with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland to further discuss the area of cross-border recognition of qualifications.

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