The Tertiary Education Union (TEU) has welcomed a recent Government decision that stipulates supervising procedures relating to students under training as teachers.
Union President Dr Tom Ryan said according to the new requirement, only registered teachers can henceforth supervise students studying to become teachers.
“This should bring an end to universities pressuring staff without practicing certificates into supervising students. We are happy that the Teachers Council has listened to the views of actual teacher educators,” he said.
Dr Ryan said the TEU has had concerns over this issue in recent years.
He said some academic staff in initial teacher education providers who do not have formal teaching qualifications have been pressured by institutions into supervising student teachers.
“Teaching is an applied professional qualification where practice is as important as research. We would not expect academics who lack a nursing qualification to be supervising student nurses in hospitals. Likewise, it is only reasonable that student teachers doing practicum with children should be supervised by registered teachers,” Dr Ryan said.
