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Qualifications required to teach in institutions of Further Education

Introduction

The Department is proposing to revise the qualifications required for new teachers in Institutions of Further Education (FE). It is proposed that the new requirements will take effect from September 2009.

Current Position

Since September 1994, entrants to full-time, permanent lecturer and associate lecturer posts in Further Education, who do not already possess a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) Degree or a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), have been required to obtain the Post Graduate Certificate in Further and Higher Education (PGCFHE) within three years of appointment.

Proposal

Following an evaluation of the teacher education programme in Further Education in 2006, the Department has now revised the existing PGCFHE in order to meet the needs of the 14-19 agenda and facilitate the transfer of teachers’ skills across the post-primary education sector. The revised qualification will be known as the Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) (Further Education).

It is proposed that, from September 2009, the PGCE (Further Education) will be a mandatory qualification for all new-entrant, permanent, full-time and associate lecturers who are not qualified teachers. Year one of the PGCE (Further Education) will be completed during the initial year of teaching. The second year must be successfully completed within a further two year timeframe.

Interim arrangements will be put in place for full-time and associate lecturers about to enter their third year of teaching, who have not yet commenced the PGCFHE.

General Teaching Council of Northern Ireland

Holders of the existing PGDFHE will continue to be eligible for registration with the General Teaching Council (NI) and will be eligible to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland.

The Department is also in discussion with the General Teaching Council (NI) regarding registration arrangements following the introduction of the revised qualification. The Department will consult further with stakeholders as these discussions proceed.

Consultation responses

Any comments you might wish to make regarding the proposed changes to the qualification requirements for new entrant teachers in Further Education should be forwarded to:

Julie Ryan
FE Policy & Strategic Development
Department for Employment & Learning
Adelaide House
39/49 Adelaide Street
Belfast
BT2 8FD
Email: julie.ryan@delni.gov.uk external link

All comments should be submitted by 18th September 2009