Teaching Council
The Teaching Council is the regulatory body for the teaching profession. It is a statutory body whose functions are set out in the Teaching Council Act 2001. These include the functions to:
- Regulate the teaching profession and the professional conduct of teachers
- Establish and promote the maintenance and improvement of standards of
- programmes of teacher education and training
- teaching, knowledge, skill and competence of teachers
- professional conduct of teachers.
- Promote the continuing education and training and professional development of teachers.
ASTI Policy
The ASTI, in common with the other teacher unions, supports the concept of an independent, statutory regulatory body for teachers as being an intrinsic dimension of teacher professionalism and vital to the status of the teaching profession.
NQT Summer Registration Process
- NQT Summer Registration Process
Following the 12 March 2020 lockdown, the Council decided to move the NQT summer registration process online wherein the HEIs transfer the graduate results to the Council. The results are then queued and processed in sequence. All NQTs were asked to complete vetting over the past few months. The Teaching Council is currently registering graduate teachers. As recruitment is currently underway, the Teaching Council has advised NQTs with pending registrations to insert “pending” on job applications until such time as their registrations are finalised and Teaching Council registration numbers issued. - Renewal of Registration
In March, the Council gave an undertaking not to remove any teacher from the Register for non-payment of fees. As the country moves into Phase 4, the Teaching Council has begun to issue the 28-day notification letter. This means that teachers will be given 28 days final notice to pay their renewal fee before lapsing from the Register. Should teachers lapse they are then not eligible to receive a State-funded salary and must re-apply for registration. This may include vetting and provision of qualification documentation if the Council does not already hold valid documentation for the teacher. ASTI urges any member who has not renewed their registration to do so immediately upon receipt of the 28 days final notice. - Expiring Conditions and Extension Requests
The Teaching Council extended the time frame for all teachers with conditions expiring between March and September in response to COVID-19. In line with re-opening the country, teachers with conditions expiring in October 2020 must forward evidence that they have completed their conditions or, alternatively, request an extension to that time. Teachers must comply with the extension request process in order to remain on the Register. In this way they are eligible to continue to receive a State-funded salary while working as a teacher in a recognised school. - Droichead
The Teaching Council is currently processing Droichead Form D and updating teachers’ registrations accordingly. Guidance will be issue in the coming months on Droichead in the next school year. - Re-Vetting
Currently the mainstream re-vetting of teachers will remain on hold. This process will re-commence in the new school year and notifications will issue to teachers 6 months in advance of their renewal dates. Teachers who are currently registered, or previously registered with the Council may submit the required documentation including a scanned signed consent form by email. Standard vetting and vetting for employment purposes are progressing as normal.
Teacher Induction
Teacher induction is the period in the professional career of teachers when, as newly qualified teachers, they commence teaching and begin to learn the skills of the classroom teacher. Education policy recognises induction as a distinct phase of the teacher’s professional career located between pre-service education and continuing professional development.
Droichead is the induction requirement established by the Teaching Council.
