IPPN

Last Updated: Thursday, 26 March 2009 12:35

Source: Teaching Council

than 64,000 teachers are now registered with the Teaching Council. The establishment of the Register of Teachers is one of the Teaching Council's most important functions and progress in this and other key areas is set out in the Council's second annual report which was published today (26 March 2009).

In order to be eligible to be registered as a teacher, applicants must hold qualifications deemed suitable by the Teaching Council. During the reporting year, the Council dealt with almost 1500 applications from persons seeking to have their qualifications recognised for the purposes of registration. In the main, these applications were made by persons whose qualifications were awarded in other countries. The Council also considered evidence of character information and, during the year, it arranged for more than 6,200 entrants to the profession to undergo a process of Garda vetting.

Speaking today, Áine Lawlor, Teaching Council Director, said "each stage of the teaching career is characterised by high professional standards and, during the year, the Council continued its work to ensure those standards are upheld. It did this in the interest of young people and society and, also, for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing the reputation of the profession".

While the development of the Register was the main focus of the Council's work during the year, significant progress was also made across the range of the Council's functions.

The Council commissioned research on teacher education in Ireland and internationally and began a consultative process to inform its drafting of its Policy Paper on Teacher Education and its Strategy for the Review and Accreditation of Programmes of Initial Teacher Education. Both the Policy Paper and the Review and Accreditation Strategy are now at an advanced stage and it is anticipated that the Council will review a number of programmes on a pilot basis later this year.

Having regard to the importance of continuing professional development in the teaching profession, the Council launched a scheme of research bursaries to assist teachers who are undertaking research related to teaching, learning and assessment. Two further schemes have subsequently been implemented and, to date, the Council has awarded almost €250,000 in research bursaries.

In everything it does, the Council seeks to promote teaching as a profession and to create a culture where the role of teachers in preparing young people for life is acknowledged and valued. The Council's production of the DVD, "Croí na Múinteoireachta", marked an important step in an ongoing campaign to inform and enhance public perception of the teaching profession. A website dedicated to promoting teaching as a profession, www.teach.ie, is currently at planning stage.