Compromise for three year trained teachers

By

Wendy Currie

The Institute of Teachers has established a 'legacy' clause, whereby three year trained teachers will be granted provisional accreditation until 2011.

Since the establishment of the NSW Institute of Teachers, all teachers employed in NSW schools, both public and private, after October 2004 have been required to have four years of tertiary training.

This is not an issue for teachers employed before that date, but became a problem for those three year trained teachers who resigned or retired or were out of teaching for five years or more, then wished to return to the classroom as a casual or permanent teacher.

These teachers were informed by the Institute that they were not qualified teachers. In response to the anxiety this caused among some highly experienced teachers, the Institute established a 'legacy' clause, whereby three year trained teachers in these circumstances will be granted provisional accreditation until 2011. After that, they will be granted conditional accreditation, the condition being that they will have to upgrade their qualifications while teaching.

This compromise on the part of the Institute is in recognition of the fact that a three year qualification was a legitimate qualification to teach in a public school at the time the teacher completed his/her training. It also recognises the valuable experience and expertise three year trained teachers bring to the classroom.

Wendy Currie is a Research Officer.

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May 2009 contents