FAQs

Teaching Council Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Teaching Council?
2. What does the Teaching Council do?
3. Who are the members of the Teaching Council?
4. How is the Council structured?
5. How will the Teaching Council benefit teachers?
6. How will the Teaching Council promote teaching as a profession?
7. What is the difference between the Teaching Council and a Teacher Union? 

 

1. What is the Teaching Council?

The Teaching Council is a self-regulating professional body which was launched by the Minister for Education and Science in February, 2005 and was established on a statutory basis on 28 March 2006.



2. What does the Teaching Council do?

The Teaching Council was established on a statutory basis in March 2006 to promote teaching as a profession at primary and post-primary levels, to promote the professional development of teachers and to regulate standards in the profession.

Specifically its functions are as follows:

  • To promote teaching as a profession
  • To promote the continuing professional development of teachers
  • To establish and maintain a register of teachers
  • To establish, publish, review and maintain Codes of Professional Conduct for Teachers which include teaching knowledge, skill and competence
  • To regulate the teaching profession and
  • To maintain and improve standards of teaching, knowledge, skill and competence.

 

3. Who are the members of the Teaching Council?

The Council is made up of thirty-seven members as follows:

  • Eleven Primary teachers, nine of whom are elected and two of whom are teacher union nominees
  • Eleven Post-primary teachers, seven of whom are elected and four of whom are teacher union nominees
  • Two nominated by colleges of education
  • Two nominated by specified third level bodies
  • Four nominated by school management (Two Primary and two Post-primary)
  • Two nominated by parents’ associations (One Primary and one Post-primary)
  • Five nominated by the Minister for Education and Science, including one representing each of IBEC and ICTU.

 

 4. How is the Council structured?

The Council has established three statutory committees as required under the Teaching Council Acts, 2001 and 2006. These are the Executive Committee, the Investigating Committee and the Disciplinary Committee. The Council has also established three standing committees; the Registration Committee, the Finance Committee and the Education Committee.


5. How will the Teaching Council benefit teachers?

Teaching is characterised by high professional standards. As a self-regulating body, the Teaching Council upholds these standards on behalf of teachers. It exercises this role in the interests of pupils and society, but it is equally important for the reputation and status of the profession.
The teacher in the classroom will benefit in many ways from the work of the Council.

  • The Teaching Council will protect standards of entry to the profession, promote induction processes and foster best practice in continuing professional development
  • It will review and accredit programmes of teacher education
  • The Teaching Council will promote research and engage in debate and discussion on policy issues related to educational provision
  • The Teaching Council will advise Government on teaching supply and other professional issues
  • The work of the Teaching Council will enhance the teacher’s individual status and identity by his/her being part of a recognised, collective professional entity, with statutory authority and recognition
  • The Teaching Council will enhance the status of the profession and will use every opportunity to promote teaching as a career

Through all of the above the Teaching Council will afford teachers the opportunity to set and maintain the standards for their profession.


6. How will the Teaching Council promote teaching as a profession?

The Teaching Council will:

  • Establish a comprehensive register of teachers and act as a repository for a wide range of information on the profession
  • Conduct research on a range of issues as required and
  • Provide advice to the Minister in accordance with its duties and powers under the Teaching Council Acts, 2001 and 2006

 

 7. What is the difference between the Teaching Council and a Teacher Union?

The teacher unions have distinct roles which range from personal support and representation to negotiation on pay and conditions of service.

The Teaching Council is concerned solely with professional matters.

 

 8. How do teachers register with the Teaching Council?

There are a number of categories of teachers who may apply to the Teaching Council for registration. For information on the categories of teachers and the procedure for registration go to our Registration Information page, by clicking on the navigation bar to the Left of this page.

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