Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

458. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of a difficulty facing holders of degrees and diplomas who are qualified to teach in Montessori schools in having their teaching qualifications recognised by the Teaching Council, that some of these teachers are employed in special education and resource teaching in conventional schools; if it is appropriate that persons should be given a period of time to achieve appropriate qualifications where an issue arises with registration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3276/16]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Since 2006, under the Teaching Council Act 2001 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory responsibility and authority for regulation of the teaching profession including the registration of teachers.

Teachers are registered under the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009. The Teaching Council recognises undergraduate Montessori qualifications (Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications) which meet the requirements of Regulation 3 (Montessori and other categories) of the 2009 Regulations.

The Teaching Council is currently reviewing the 2009 regulations and is endeavouring to ensure that teachers who are registered or currently pursuing a programme whose graduates registered under Regulation 3 will not be disadvantaged by any revision.

With reference to the generality of the question posed, all applicants for teaching posts in recognised schools must be registered with the Teaching Council. Where a teacher has been registered with conditions, the Teaching Council grants a three year period in which to fulfil the condition(s) applied. A teacher may seek an extension to the period for fulfilling the conditions on a wide variety of grounds including where a teacher demonstrates that he/she is actively seeking to complete an appropriate qualification. It is essential that teachers requiring an extension to their conditional registration period engage with the Council.