FAQ - Teacher Education
The following are frequently asked questions concerning teacher education.
- How do I know whether the initial teacher education (ITE) programme has been approved by the New Zealand Teachers Council?
- What do I do if I find my ITE programme is not recognised by the New Zealand Teachers Council?
- What qualifications do I need to begin an ITE programme?
- What do I do if I find the ITE programme is not of a good quality?
- Which teaching qualification will give me the best salary?
- What if I have a qualification for one sector (ECE, primary, secondary, Māori immersion) and want to teach in another?
- I have heard that I can only be provisionally registered for six years and will then need to complete a refresher programme. What does this mean? Do I have to repeat my ITE programme?
If you still have a question that you would like an answer to you can contact our helpdesk on +64 4 471 0852, fax +64 4 471 0870 or email inquiries@teacherscouncil.govt.nz
How do I know whether the ITE programme has been approved by the New Zealand Teachers Council?
There is a list of all currently approved ITE programmes on our website and the TeachNZ website. It is important to note that a qualification can be registered on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework but may not have gained approval from the Teachers Council for teacher registration purposes.
What do I do if I find my 'ITE programme' is not recognised by the New Zealand Teachers Council?
Unfortunately this is a 'buyer beware' situation. The Teachers Council does not have any influence or take any action on behalf of students who have enrolled in a non-approved programme.
What qualifications do I need to begin an ITE programme?
For a diploma or degree programme you will need to demonstrate certain levels of academic achievement, and the dispositions, qualities and ability to cope successfully with tertiary level study. Entry requirements to ITE programmes can be found in appendix 3 to the Approval, Review and Monitoring Processes and Requirements for Initial Teacher Education Programmes.If your qualifications are from overseas institutions you will need to get an evaluation done by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Phone: 04 802 3000 or visit their website http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/ for more information.
For a one-year graduate early childhood, primary or secondary programme you must hold meet the entry requirements to a Graduate Diploma (see appendix 3 as referenced above).
What do I do if I find the ITE programme is not of a good quality?
You may wish to put your concerns in writing to the Teachers Council or the quality assurance body (QAB) of that institution. For universities the QAB is the Committee on University Approval of Programmes (CUAP), for institutes of technology, polytechnics and private providers it is the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
Which teaching qualification will give me the best salary?
The Teachers Council does not determine the salaries of teachers when they graduate. You will need to check this with the Ministry of Education or with one of the teacher unions. For many early childhood education settings salaries are the preserve of the employer/employing body and may not be covered by a collective agreement.
For Secondary teachers: NZ Post Primary Teachers Association. Phone 04 384 9964. Website: http://www.ppta.org.nz/
For Primary and early childhood education teachers: NZ Educational Institute, Te Riu Roa. Phone: 04 384 9689. Website: http://www.nzei.org.nz/
See the Department of Labour website for information about collective and individual employment agreements. http://www.dol.govt.nz/
What if I have a qualification for one sector (ECE, primary, secondary, Māori immersion) and want to teach in another?
For registration purposes, your teacher registration is valid for any sector. Some employers may employ you with a qualification for another sector. You will need to check with them as to what you will be paid.
Early childhood education (ECE) services require teachers with ECE teaching qualifications in order to access Ministry of Education funding for qualified teachers. Teachers with other qualifications may therefore not receive payment as a qualified teacher, however this is at the discretion of the employer.
I have heard that I can only be provisionally registered for six years and will then need to complete a refresher programme. What does this mean? Do I have to repeat my ITE programme?
You will not need to repeat your ITE programme. The maximum period of time for provisional registration to be awarded is six years, and teachers are expected to meet the requirements to gain full registration within that time. Teachers who are not able to gain full registration after six years of being provisionally registered may reapply for provisional after completing a refresher programme.
Refresher programmes will be developed from 2012 and will be designed to update the professional knowledge and practice of those teachers who have had limited teaching experience within the last six years and have not been able to complete the teaching required to gain full registration. Information about these refresher programmes will be on the website as it becomes available. Further requirements and expectations for provisionally registered teachers can be read in Section Two, Part b: Provisional Registration in the Registration Policy.