Director's Message
30 June 2005
In the latest OECD report titled Teachers Matter: Attracting, Developing and Retaining Effective Teachers, the challenge facing teachers, both nationally and internationally, is clearly outlined by this quote:
The demands on schools and teachers are becoming more complex. Society now expects schools to deal more effectively with different languages and student backgrounds, to be sensitive to culture and gender issues, to promote tolerance and social cohesion, to respond effectively to disadvantaged students and students with learning or behavioural problems, to use new technologies, and to keep pace with rapidly developing fields of knowledge and approaches to student assessment. (p.7, 2005)
Although the thrust of this international report is focused on schools, clearly similar challenges face the early childhood sector. As we listen to the current political debate, education sits high on policy agendas. It is critical you take the opportunity to participate in shaping the policy directions of your professional body!
Participate in the election of your professional sector representative - be ready to vote!
THE COUNCIL NEEDS YOUR HELP!
SPREAD THE WORD - BE READY TO VOTE FOR YOUR SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES
The Council would like to thank those who have already updated their details either on-line at www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/mailformaddress.stm
or via letter or by a phone call to our call centre (04) 471 0852.
Please let us know if your name, residential /postal address or status has changed. If contact details are not up-to-date on the Council records we may be unable to send you the required voting papers.
The Change of Details Form on the Council's website at www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/mailformaddress.stm also asks you to nominate your sector (Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary or Principal). This is important information to the Council and will allow the Returning Officer to send you the appropriate sector voting paper in September.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Registration:
Since the last Director's Message, it has been heartening to see the number of applications that have been received. We want to continue to build on this momentum.
REMEMBER, to be eligible to vote in the upcoming election, teachers must be registered and hold a current practising certificate.
If your practising certificate or registration expires prior to October 1, apply for the renewal of your certificate NOW! Any teacher is able to apply for the renewal of a practising certificate, as long as it is not more than 6 months in advance.
Forms and the application process
It is important that the most up-to-date forms are used when applying for registration, practising certificate renewal and non-teacher police vets. NZ Police will no longer accept forms that do not include correct references to the Clean Slate legislation. The Council offers up-to-date forms on its website at www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz and urges schools and centres to destroy any old forms held and download the latest from the website. In doing so you will not delay your application being processed because they are sent back by NZ Police.
The Council also reminds you to check that application forms are complete and correct; the appropriate documentation is certified and sent (if specified), forms are signed appropriately and full payment is enclosed.
This will ensure that applications from your school or centre are not sent back for additional detail or payment.
Non Teacher Police Vetting
All regions and sectors are open for non teacher police vetting. Under the Education Standards Act: all schools and centres with non teachers and contractors in their employment (working regularly on school/centre grounds in school hours) are required to ensure these staff have current police vets. A police vet is current for three years unless the non teacher or contractor moves to a different school/centre or is employed at multiple schools/centres and then a police vet is required for each school/centre the non teacher or contractor is employed at. Police vets are not transferable. Up-to-date forms are available at http://www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/ntpv/form.stm
Reminder notices were sent to the following regions (schools and centres) in May: Canterbury, Southland, Otago and the West Coast. In June, reminder notices were sent to schools and centres in the Wellington, Nelson and Marlborough regions. July will see reminder notices sent to schools and centres in the Manawatu, Wanganui, Hawkes Bay regions and the Chatham Islands.
The Managers
It is my pleasure, in this message, to introduce the manager who has responsibility for Teacher Education at the Council.
Ken Wilson: Senior Advisor Teacher Education
Ken has been active in education since he began as a primary teacher in 1970 in Hawera. Since then he has taught in a variety of primary and secondary schools in the Pacific, in Wanganui and around Wellington. More recently he held the position of Director: School of Advanced and Postgraduate Qualifications at Wellington College of Education until joining the Council in 2002.
In his role as Senior Advisor: Teacher Education, Ken leads a small team which maintains positive liaison with teacher education institutions, conducts approvals and manages the external monitoring and moderation of teacher education programmes. Ken is an avid motorcyclist and has been known from time to time to visit teacher education students wearing leather, rather than a suit.
Teacher education is under considerable scrutiny at present from a variety of sources. Ken and his team are confident that we can maintain a quality system in this country that brings well-prepared, committed and competent teachers into the profession.
Dr Peter Lind
Director
This document can be downloaded in PDF format by clicking here