Teaching Council changes to Teacher Education and courses necessary to reregister

strawberrie

http://www.teachingcouncil.ie/section1/default.asp?NCID=555

This is a discussion document. The deadline for teachers to respond is March 1st - fast approaching!

If brought into force major changes will take place to teacher professional development.

Completing courses will be compulsory, the course you do will be decided on by the school, (in line with school needs) and all teachers will have to maintain a professional portfolio throughout their careers. Proof of completion of courses will be necessary to reregister with the Teaching Council and thus get paid.

Major changes to entry requirements to teaching courses, content of courses, teacher induction and mentoring suggested. Some positive suggestions and some I'd query.

Worth making a submission though and having your opinion heard and counted.

Apologies if there is a thread elsewhere on this. New to this forum.

clartharlear

That is fast approaching, i.e. you pretty much have to submit your comments tomorrow!

I haven't even read it properly yet! But...

Selection procedures for initial teacher education should assess, in so far as possible, the broad range of factors which may impact on the applicant’s suitability for entry to the profession. In that context, there should be a review of entry requirements and selection procedures to include consideration of: the use of aptitude tests and structured interviews; the significance of previous relevant experience; the standard of academic achievement required. Having regard to the latter in particular, the Council considers that the entry level Mathematics requirement should be raised.

The 'learning to teach' paper written by Conway et al suggests flexible pathways into teaching is desirable and that ensuring a diverse teaching force is a concern. (p.17)


I think the TC are trying to make it harder and harder to get into teaching, which I disagree with. I want to look up more stuff about the importance of not excluding people before they've even been given a chance. I think it's far more important to focus on CPD and supporting teachers to become better or encouraging natural teachers to enter the profession rather than setting arbitrary academic borders.

E.T.

There's a big discussion on this in the A Voice for Teachers section on educationposts. It's well worth a look, people have really read this draft in depth and pointed out a lot of the flaws in it. I've submitted my opinion on it, hopefully someone will actually read it!

Pwpane

E.T. wrote: »

There's a big discussion on this in the A Voice for Teachers section on educationposts. It's well worth a look, people have really read this draft in depth and pointed out a lot of the flaws in it. I've submitted my opinion on it, hopefully someone will actually read it!

Sorry to appear dense - where do I find A Voice for Teachers on educationposts....?...don't see it....?

clartharlear

It's down at the end, under 'off-topic'. I can't read the thread yet because I'm not registered...

http://forum.educationposts.ie/viewforum.php?id=38

Pwpane

clartharlear wrote: »

It's down at the end, under 'off-topic'. I can't read the thread yet because I'm not registered...

http://forum.educationposts.ie/viewforum.php?id=38

Thanks!! No wonder I could never find anything in the library...:p