Written answers

Tuesday, 26 April 2022

Department of Education and Skills

Teaching Council of Ireland

Photo of Aodhán Ó RíordáinAodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

827. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to allow student teachers that are already registered with the Teaching Council to keep their council registration number though availing of a renewal of their registration upon qualification rather than being obliged to re-register as is the case under the current system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19439/22]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. It acts in the interests of the public good while upholding and enhancing standards in the teaching profession. 

The Teaching Council registers teachers in line with the requirements set out in the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016.Section 30 of the Act makes it a requirement for teachers to register with the Teaching Council in order to be paid from State funds.

The Council has a streamlined "fast-track" application process in place for Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) who wish to register with the Council. This process is in place for all newly qualified primary and post primary teachers including PME student teachers who are already registered with the Teaching Council under ‘Route 3 – Further Education’.  PME student teachers that are already registered under Route 3 can apply to register under their qualified route of qualification i.e., Route 1 for primary teachers and Route 2 for post-primary teachers, under the “fast -track” process and will maintain the same registration number.

Furthermore, an amendment to the Teaching Council Registration Regulations has been approved and signed which will enable student teachers on undergraduate teacher education programmes to apply for registration with the Council under Route 5 – Student Teachers. These student teachers must have successfully completed?the first two years of their undergraduate teacher education programme. The Council is currently developing systems and processes to support the registration and vetting of these student teachers. Once these are available, all eligible student teachers will be contacted by the Council and invited to apply for registration as a student teacher.

Student teachers who register with the Teaching Council under Route 5 will be granted registration with conditions for a period of 1 to 2 years depending on their year of qualification. One of such conditions will be that the student teacher must remain a registered teacher on an accredited undergraduate programme in teacher education. On successful completion of their teacher education programme, there will be a “fast-track” application process in place for student teachers who wish to apply to continue their registration under their qualified route of qualification i.e., Route 1 for primary teachers and Route 2 for post-primary teachers.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.