Teachers who qualified abroad can complete induction in Ireland
The Teaching Council announced today that on an exceptional timebound basis, teachers who have qualified abroad can complete their induction here in Ireland.
Teachers must apply no later than 29 October 2021 to be eligible. It is anticipated that the measure could attract an additional 350 teachers to fill both short-term and long-term vacancies in schools in the next academic year.
The measure was signed into law on 27 May by the Minister for Education Norma Foley TD, together with Chairperson of the Teaching Council, Seán McMahon, and the Director of the Teaching Council, Tomás Ó Ruairc.
This measure is particularly relevant to Irish citizens who have studied and qualified abroad and who may wish to return to the Irish education sector as we deal with our current challenges. Please click here for further information on how to apply for registration under this regulation.
This announcement forms part of ongoing measures being co-ordinated by the Minister and Department of Education in consultation with all stakeholders in education.
The measures being implemented by the Teaching Council are focused on increasing the supply of registered teachers who are available to fill vacancies, including supervision and substitution roles, on an ongoing basis throughout the forthcoming 2021/22 school year.
Minister for Education Norma Foley TD said: “I would like to thank the Teaching Council for its work in supporting teacher supply and to welcome this Teaching Council regulation which will enable, on an exceptional basis, teachers who qualified abroad to complete their induction in Ireland. This regulation will help build capacity in our schools and provide for these newly qualified teachers to return home and work here while enhancing the supply of qualified teachers for our schools in the new school year. This measure will be a critical support for schools and is very welcome as we emerge from the challenges of Covid-19.”
Director of the Teaching Council, Tomás Ó Ruairc said: “The teaching profession has risen admirably to the challenges presented by the unprecedented pandemic crisis. It is an absolute priority for all stakeholders in education to support our school communities nationwide and to prepare now for the new academic year and the potential for any ongoing pressures which may still exist as we emerge from the pandemic crisis. These renewed and ongoing measures are designed to maximise the available pool of registered teachers to support schools in meeting their recruitment, supervision and substitution requirements. Throughout every aspect of our streamlined processes, we are expediting the registration and vetting of eligible teachers in adherence to our statutory role and regulations. The Teaching Council will continue its close collaboration with the Department of Education and all stakeholders to support our school communities in this process.”
Chair of the Teaching Council, Seán McMahon said: “Everyone in society must acknowledge the exceptional work that teachers and schools have been doing and the stress and pressure they have constantly been under while ensuring continuity of learning, during the periods of remote education and the return to school. Schools have also faced challenges in securing substitutes and the Teaching Council has been engaging extensively with all stakeholders in education in relation to this matter including the school management bodies, higher education institutions and the Department of Education. This system-wide approach, combined with ongoing analysis of all available data, will contribute to the work of our school communities as they continue to progress through the current difficult circumstances. These actions, combined with the much anticipated alleviation of the pandemic will assist the resourcing of our schools in line with all other measures that are being implemented in relation to teacher supply.”
Additional measures
Additional measures led by the Teaching Council include direct communication with the entire register of teachers, working with the higher education institutions (HEIs) to accelerate the availability of Professional Master of Education (PME) student teachers (who are eligible to register under Further Education), and encouragement of teachers whose registration is approaching expiry to stay registered and to make themselves available as substitutes.
The Teaching Council has also highlighted that school principals can avail of cross-sectoral substitution where, for example, any registered teacher can substitute in both primary and post-primary once vetted through the Council.
The Council operates a fast-track summer registration process each year to ensure that the newly qualified teachers (NQTs) are registered in advance of the new school year. It is anticipated that over the summer approximately 3,400 newly qualified teachers will be added to the register.
In the first five months of 2021, over 1,500 new registrations were completed across all four routes of registration with 500 of these occurring between the start of April and mid-May.
More than 2,500 vetting applications were processed to date this year as part of new applications for registrations.
Register Your Availability
Any teachers registered with the Teaching Council who are in a position to provide more substitution and supervision or to fill vacancies, are asked to register their availability through www.educationposts.ie and in particular through the Sub Seeker platform for short-term substitution requirements.
Teachers who are graduating this summer are asked to follow the instructions, including completing their vetting, in the email that they receive from the Teaching Council when their results have transferred over from the higher education institutions.
Higher Education Institutions (Teacher Education Universities and Colleges)
The Teaching Council will engage with the higher education institutions to explore how the availability of registered teachers on school placement to schools for supervision and substitution can be maximised.
School principals
School principals should also be aware of the potential for cross-sectoral substitution where, for example, PME student teachers in the further education sector, and any registered teacher, can substitute in both the primary and post-primary sectors once they are registered and vetted through the Teaching Council.
Recruitment and Employment
The recruitment and employment of teachers will continue to be handled in the normal way by school management and their related patron bodies, subject, as usual, to the necessary registration and vetting processes in line with the professional standards regulations of the Teaching Council. Candidates should visit www.educationposts.ie in the first instance.
ENDS
