Written answers

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Teaching Council of Ireland

Photo of Noel GrealishNoel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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131. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will work with the Teaching Council to ensure that newly qualified teachers that were completing the Droichead programme are not disadvantaged by the sudden closure of schools in March 2020; if she will work with the Teaching Council to ensure that Droichead completion is accepted by the Teaching Council if principals are satisfied to sign off on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12831/20]

Photo of Alan FarrellAlan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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201. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to ensure that newly-qualified teachers engaged in the Droichead process will be given credit by the Teaching Council for days that they have worked from home (details supplied). [13289/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Teaching Council is the statutory body with responsibility for professional standards at all stages of the teaching career. It has established standards for post-qualification professional practice, as set out in Droichead, the integrated professional induction framework for newly qualified primary and post-primary teachers.

Due to Covid-19 and the unprecedented situation of school closures, the Teaching Council has announced revised arrangements which provide additional flexibility to support newly qualified teachers (NQTs) engaging in Droichead in 2019/2020 to complete the process. These arrangements balance the core principles of the policy which is the school based supportive process coupled with engagement in additional professional learning activities.

The Council has made a significant concession for NQTs who had not completed the full Droichead process within the minimum period of time by 12 March. This includes the recognition of all elements of Droichead which have been completed up to that date i.e. additional professional learning activities, observations, professional conversations, cluster meetings, Taisce (the professional learning portfolio) and days/hours taught. In normal circumstances this would not be the position. 

The Council has also clarified that any time spent engaging in Droichead after 12 March can be included in verification of the Droichead process. This includes remote teaching and learning, professional discussions and online observations.

Droichead as a process is not simply about teaching time. From a professional standards point of view, it requires the agreement of the NQT and the Professional Support Team in the school that a quality induction process has occurred over the minimum period of time specified.

While I understand that the Council has communicated with all NQTs and schools affected, further details of the revised arrangements can be found at www.teachingcouncil.ie.

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