Briefing to the Incoming Minister of Education - January 2012

About the New Zealand Teachers Council

1.  The New Zealand Teachers Council (the Council) was established in 2002 as an Autonomous Crown Entity.  Its main functions are to:

  • Set the standards for entering the teaching profession and maintaining ongoing membership.
  • Set the requirements for and approve, reapprove and monitor initial teacher education programmes in conjunction with other quality assurance bodies.
  • Carry out processes for the efficient registration of teachers.
  • Commission or carry out research to support quality teaching and the other functions of the Council.
  • Communicate with the profession to support teachers' knowledge and understanding of the standards and commitments of the teaching profession.
  • Consult on key policy developments.

2.  The Council supports over 98,000 registered teachers and expects its total income in the current financial year to be around $6.7 million.  Of that $178,000 is provided by the Crown with the majority of the rest being paid by teachers.

3.   The Council is governed by a board of eleven members of which four (including the Chair) are appointed by the Minister of Education; three members are nominated by the New Zealand Education Institute, the Post Primary Teachers Association and New Zealand School Trustees Association; and four members are elected by childhood education teachers, primary teachers, secondary teachers and principals. 

4.   The Council's current chair is Alison McAlpine and the Director is Dr Peter Lind.  The Council member elections were held in October 2011 with the next one due in 2014.  Terms for two nominated members, namely the member nominated by NZEI and the member nominated by PPTA are due to expire in December 2011 and both organisations have asked that their existing nominees are appointed for a further term.

 

The Council's Achievements

5.   Over the last three years the Council has:

  • Developed the standards to enter and remain in the teaching profession (the Registered Teacher Criteria) and
  • Developed an online Teacher Register and regular matching of data from that with the Ministry of Education's teacher payroll.
  • Established processes and panels to consider issues of teacher conduct and competence including three Complaints Assessment Committees, an Impairment Committee, a Competence Advisory Group and a Disciplinary Tribunal. 
  • Developed Guidelines for Induction and Mentoring and Mentor Teachers and run workshops to support these.
  • Developed the Graduating Teacher Standards and new requirements for the approval, reapproval and monitoring of initial teacher education programmes, set up expert panels to consider programmes.
  • Formed a close relationship with the Australian State teacher registration bodies via the Trans Tasman mutual recognition of teachers.

 

The Council's Current Priorities

6.   The Council's current priorities include:

  • Developing advice to link teacher appraisal to the Registered Teacher Criteria.
  • Introducing the revised Registration Policy.
  • Working with the profession to improve understanding of the complaints and mandatory reporting processes.
  • Looking at how we can use technology to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of our work.
  • Reviewing the legislation that governs the Council and its work. 

7.   We would be happy to provide any further information that you require and look forward to meeting with you.