Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020
112. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the distanced teaching work newly qualified teachers are doing online at home will qualify towards their probation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9707/20]
View answer120. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the commitment given to NQTs by the Teaching Council that no NQT would be disadvantaged in their progress through the Droichead process due to school closures after the lockdown to manage the Covid-19 crisis and that no NQT will be required to begin the Droichead process from day one due to school closures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9802/20]
View answer127. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the completion of the Droichead programme in the context of primary school teaching; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9848/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 120 and 127 together.
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, on May 22nd last the Teaching Council 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.
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.
I am, however, also aware of concerns raised regarding a smaller group of NQTs who had not met the minimum time requirement by 12 March. I understand the Teaching Council has just completed a review of their situation and will be communicating directly with those concerned this week.
