The Teacher Education Section of the Department of Education and Skills was established to oversee teacher education policy and practice. The Department is involved in policy formulation, co-ordination, general direction and management, quality and financial control in supporting the provision of education and continuing support for teachers and schools.
The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for teaching that
promotes and regulates the profession. As the regulatory body for teachers in
Ireland, the Teaching Council produces a code of professional conduct for
teachers, which covers standards of teaching, knowledge, skill and competence.
It also maintains a register of teachers.
Primary school teachers must be qualified to teach the range of primary school subjects to children aged 4 to 12 years. To qualify as a primary school teacher, you must have completed one of the following:
A list of recognised colleges providing approved programmes is available on the website of the Teaching Council of Ireland.
Irish language requirements: Primary school teachers must be able to teach the Irish language and the range of primary school subjects through Irish.
Post primary teachers are normally required to teach at least 1 subject which they have studied to degree level. Post-primary teachers do not need to have a qualification in the Irish language unless they are employed by a Gaeltacht school or a school where Irish is the medium of instruction.
Qualification is usually achieved by gaining a primary degree from a recognised third-level institution. This degree must include at least 1 subject from the post-primary schools’ curriculum for the Leaving Certificate Programme. The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for teaching the promotes and regulates the profession. The primary degree is followed by a postgraduate qualification in education such as the Professional Masters in Education (PME).
The Teaching Council is the statutory body that sets the standards of academic achievement and professional training required of teachers.
If you are a primary or post-primary school teacher who qualified outside Ireland and you wish to teach in a recognised school, you must apply for recognition of your qualifications prior to registration. The Teaching Council is responsible for processing applications and regulating admissions to the teaching profession in Ireland. Qualifications obtained outside the EU must be acceptable to the Council. Once your qualifications have been recognised, you may then apply for registration.
This scheme allows for language assistants from France, Germany, Spain, Austria and Italy to be assigned to post-primary schools and colleges in Ireland. Their fluency can help students understand and speak a foreign language and give them a better understanding of the way of life and customs of other countries. In the same way Irish students of French, German, Italian and Spanish can apply to work as English language assistants in the countries listed above. Details of the English Language Assistant scheme can be found on the Department of Education and Skills website.
There are a number of supports available to teachers for continuing professional development. The Department of Education and Skills, Teacher Education Section, provides support to school leaders and teachers in a number of areas such as curriculum reform, improving principals’ skills as leaders and managers, facilitating the management of schools and increasing the involvement of parents in the education of their children. It also provides support to particular projects and initiatives including those related to priority areas of education provision such as disadvantage and inclusion, education for students with special educational needs, positive behaviour management and language support for foreign national students.
The nationwide network of education centres organise the local delivery of national programmes of teacher professional development on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. The centres also organise a varied local programme of activities for teachers, school management and parents in response to demand.
Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) provides professional development and support to help teachers and schools to provide the best possible education for all pupils and students. Continuing Professional Development opportunities are provided for teachers on a nationwide basis and in collaboration with the Education Centre network.
The Special Education Support
Service co-ordinates, develops and delivers a range of professional
development initiatives and support structures for school personnel working
with students with special educational needs in a variety of educational
settings. These include mainstream primary and post-primary schools, special
schools and special classes attached to mainstream schools.
Since 28 January 2014, teachers employed in State-funded teaching positions in recognised schools must be registered with the Teaching Council in order to be paid from public funds.
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.