Need help please with PME application and Teaching Council registration.

John Hastings

Hello everyone.

I've been trying to find information about my situation online but its all ambiguous and there is no clear answer.

I have some burning questions regarding PME and registering with The Teaching Council.

This is my situation:

• I have bachelors and masters in Economics from one of the Irish universities.
• My plan is to apply for 2 year PME and after that register as post primary Maths teacher with the Teaching Council.

I've been reading the "Teaching Council Registration Curricular Subject Requirements" but im still not sure if i can register as Maths teacher when im all done with my 2 years PME. In their handbook they have this information regarding registering as Maths teacher:

"To meet this requirement the degree must include the study of all of the following Essential areas of study:

a) Analysis (must include a module or modules in multi variable calculus)

b) Algebra (must include a module or modules in linear Algebra)

c) Geometry (must include a module or modules in Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Geometry)

d) Probability

e) Statistics (must include a module or modules in Statistical Inference)"

I looked at the modules i covered in my Economics bachelor and masters years and i believe i covered all of these but one of them, "Non-Euclidean Geometry"

From what i understand, when you sign up for PME you fill up a declaration in which you basically say "yes i covered all these modules, i believe i am qualified to teach Maths." After that the teaching council takes your transcript and they decide if their happy with your modules or not and they decide if you can register as Maths teacher. Im confused about the timeline of all these events. When do you find out if they approve your request or not?

Now my questions are:

1. Has anyone seen or heard about people applying for Maths teacher coming from a Economics background? Is this doable?
2. Will i be able to register as Maths teacher with the Teaching Council if i lack this one area of study?
3. When will i know exactly if i can register or not as Maths teacher? Do they tell you straight away before you start your PME and you have to pay all the fees or they let you go on for 2 years and only at the end they tell you if you can register or not?
4. What is the best way to acquire this missing module/area of study if it comes down to me having to acquire it? Can i quickly study just one module in one semester in any university or do i need to do a whole multi year degree?
5. My degree is in Economics but i did all the maths they require through my modules. My modules have Economics specific names and not necessarily the same wording as the Maths hand book, for example i studied Analysis, Algebra, Probability but the modules have different name because its Economics. Does the Teaching Council understand this or do they want black on white and exact wording when i list all my modules?

If you guys can find the time and patience to help me with my questions i would really appreciate because as of right now im lost in how to deal with the Teaching Council.

Thank you.

derb12

Hi John, welcome to the board and hopefully the profession.

I’m afraid that I am probably the bearer of bad news though - the TC are unlikely to recognise your degree for maths. One of my colleagues is an economics and maths teacher and I know that he had to do an additional part-time maths qualification for 2 years (the dept used to offer one as there was a big shortage of maths teachers but I think that’s over now - maybe someone can correct me). I myself had an IT degree with lots of maths but still had to do extra courses with the OU.

As for the timeline, I am not sure how that works with PMEs now. I was doing my HDip just as the TC was starting up. You could try just picking up the phone and enquiring directly. You might get someone helpful who’ll give you guidance re the timeline. They definitely won’t tell you straight up if your degree is recognised for maths over the phone though (even though many have gone before you through their books with the same qualification) - they’ll be needing transcripts and course descriptions and about €200 first.

My advice would be to focus on business and economics but apply for jobs that are looking for maths also. Or make it known to your principal that you are interested in teaching maths and plan to train up in the future. Business (and science) teachers often end up teaching junior maths in schools (even when they’d prefer not to) due to staffing issues.

I hope that’s of some help!

derb12

Oh and I almost forgot - be sure to do the maths specialism course as part of your PME, along with business and economics.

John Hastings

Thanks for your reply.