|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
Director's MessageClick here to choose another archived message.
DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE July 2007
Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou Overseas Qualifications The Council receives many applications from individuals with overseas qualifications seeking registration as a New Zealand teacher. A number of these applications are from people who have completed an employment-based course of study that does not lead to the award of a teaching qualification by an accredited institution. In particular, we have a significant number of such applicants from England and Wales. While Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in these countries is what defines a qualified teacher, it is not an academic qualification. QTS is a status in much the same way as provisional registration is a status in New Zealand. A significant number of teachers in England and Wales undertake an approved one year post-graduate qualification, the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). This qualification is usually given comparability by NZQA to an approved New Zealand teaching qualification, such as the Graduate Diploma of Teaching. Some teachers in England and Wales undertake employment-based pathways to Qualified Teacher Status, such as the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP), the Registered Teacher Programme (RTP), and some of the School Centre Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programmes. These employment-based pathways do not lead to any academic qualification recognised by an accredited institution. Since these employment-based pathways do not lead to any academic award, neither the registration authorities in Australia, nor NZQA in New Zealand, are able to recognise the course of study completed as an equivalent teaching qualification. The New Zealand Teachers Council does consider applications for registration as a teacher from those who do not hold teaching qualifications recognised as comparable by the Council. This is by the Track Two process and applicants in this situation present a package for the Council to consider. This package needs to include tertiary qualifications, significant teaching experience with evidence of appraisal and professional development, and support from professional leaders. It is critical that the same high standards expected of New Zealand applicants are applied to overseas applicants who are seeking to be employed in New Zealand teaching positions. Professional leaders, who are seeking to employ people from overseas into teaching positions in New Zealand, should ensure that the person, before beginning teaching in this position, has New Zealand teacher registration. There are a number of examples where people have been employed and begun teaching in New Zealand before their teacher status has been verified. This creates enormous difficulties for all concerned, particularly in relation to being able to be permanently employed in a teaching position, appropriately remunerated, and gaining appropriate immigration status. To facilitate migration of overseas trained teachers and to maintain a high standard to protect quality teaching and the quality of teaching qualifications in New Zealand, the Ministry of Education and NZQA have agreed that the Council is the appropriate agency to decide whether a person is satisfactorily trained to teach. From 22 February 2007, the Ministry of Education will regard all overseas-trained teachers who are newly registered by the Teachers Council as suitably trained to teach including for pay purposes. Random Audit of Provisionally Registered Teachers All provisionally registered teachers (PRT) in New Zealand must undertake a 2-year programme of advice and guidance (please refer to Towards Full Registration on the NZTC website). Provisionally registered teachers and their employing authorities must maintain an appropriate written record of the programme undertaken and be able to provide this as evidence should it be required by the Council. If the Council is alerted to the fact that a PRT may not have been provided or undertaken an appropriate advice and guidance programme, this written evidence may be requested. Similarly, if a PRT claims that he/she was not provided an appropriate advice and guidance programme, the employer may be requested to provide written documentation that counters the claim of the PRT. The Council is in the third phase of a research project investigating the delivery of induction programmes for PRTs in New Zealand. This research will inform future processes for the audit of teachers moving from provisional registration to full registration. Until this work has been completed, the Council has determined to suspend the random audit of 10 per cent of all PRT applications. (a) In ConclusionI welcome comment and feedback from you on any of these matters or other issues you may wish to raise with me. You may contact me at peter.lind@teacherscouncil.govt.nz.
Dr Peter Lind
This document can be downloaded in PDF format by right clicking here and choosing 'save target as' Click on a date below to view archived messages from the director. December 2009 | October 2009 | September 2009/18 | September 2009 | August 2009 | June 2009 | December 2008 | September 2008 | July 2008 | March 2008 | November 2007 | July 2007 | 12 April 2007 | 12 Feb 2007 | 11 Dec 2006 | 6 Dec 2006 | 2 May 2006 | 6 Mar 2006 | 6 Dec 2005 | 31 Oct 2005 | 31 Aug 2005 | 30 Jun 2005 | 6 Jun 2005 | 5 May 2005 | 15 Dec 2004 | 3 Nov 2003
|
|
