Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 May 2024
80. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how citizens who qualified as a secondary school teacher prior to, when a Hons Degree and H.Dip were sufficient to qualify and register as a teacher can become eligible to register as a secondary school teacher since the qualification standard has been changed to Masters level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23111/24]
View answerUnder 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.
The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015. There are five routes of registration with the Teaching Council which are namely Route 1: Primary, Route 2: Post-primary, Route 3: Further Education, Route 4: Other and Route 5: Student Teacher. The registration requirements for each route are set out in the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016.
Under the legislation, teachers who had qualified in Ireland and had not registered prior to the changes that were made requiring a Professional Masters in Education (PME) to become a post-primary teacher, are required to hold the relevant qualifications.
For primary and post-primary teachers registered after 1 June 2020, Droichead is now the only route of induction. Those registered prior to this date are required to provide evidence of completing a minimum block of post qualification employment in a post primary school.
Any individual in this position is advised to engage fully with the Council and to follow any advice or guidance that they may give on the matter, as any relevant qualifications and experience may be considered by the Council. Registration can be provided, conditional on the basis of making up shortfalls identified, for example the period of induction (Droichead), however this is a matter for the Council to determine in accordance with the legislation and procedures for registration.
As per Circular 0044/2019, an appropriately qualified teacher conditionally registered with the Teaching Council is subject to the standard terms and conditions and they will be remunerated on the teachers’ incremental salary scale at the qualified rate. This is based on continued compliance with the terms of registration within the period prescribed by the Teaching Council.
