Circulars on Teacher Recruitment

The DES issued two circulars dealing with (1) the appointment of teaching staff and (2) the recognition of teachers' qualifications.

The circular on teacher recruitment sets down two key criteria governing all new teacher appointments from 1 September 2010. These can be summarised as follows:
1. All teachers proposed for appointment from 1 September 2010 must be qualified and registered with the Teaching Council. (Unregistered teachers and unqualified personnel will be paid at the untrained rate).
2. Teachers appointed at primary level from 1 September 2010 must have qualifications appropriate to the primary sector.

The implications of these two requirements are as follows:

• New teachers entering service, teachers changing schools and teachers becoming principals in a school other than their current one must be registered with the Teaching Council. 
• Teachers who are appointed in advance of being registered by the Teaching Council will only be paid at the qualified rate from the date of registration.
• The existing position which allows special schools catering for a cohort of postprimary age pupils to recruit post-primary qualified teachers remains.
• However, post-primary qualified teachers are not considered appropriately qualified for the Mainstream primary sector and Circular 24/00 is being rescinded.

The other circular is in relation to teachers qualified abroad. The key purpose of this circular is to formally announce that issues relating to the recognition of teaching qualifications obtained abroad are the responsibility of the Teaching Council.

Circular 31/2011 - Teacher Recruitment Registration Qualifications
Circular 31/2010 - Teacher Registration and Qualifications European Council Directives on Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications