The Education Minister has reaffirmed that teachers recruited from outside the British Isles must hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
This is despite recent changes in the UK which have widened recognition of some overseas teaching qualifications.
Answering a question from Speaker of the House of Keys David Ashford in Tynwald this morning, Education, Sport and Culture Minister Sarah Maltby said the department considers both the qualifications and professional experience of overseas-trained applicants but remains committed to the principle that teachers should possess QTS.
Mr Ashford asked whether the department was aware of recent UK changes introduced on October 13 and whether the Isle of Man intended to mirror those provisions, including exemptions available to some overseas nationals.
Ms Maltby said the department would review the changes but stressed that “QTS status must be part of the qualification for teachers.”
Exemptions
When pressed on exemptions recognised elsewhere in the UK, including for some teachers from South Africa, the minister said the island does not currently mirror those arrangements but that it was something she could discuss with the department. She added that maintaining the QTS standard remained important.
Rushen MHK Mark Kemp also asked whether the department would undertake an independent audit of overseas-trained teachers currently employed in island schools to assess whether their qualifications, professional registrations and safeguarding checks meet required standards.
In response, Ms Maltby said she was prepared to discuss whether such an audit would be the most effective use of resources.
Later in the exchange, Chief Minister Chris Thomas asked how overseas qualifications are assessed in the Isle of Man.
Ms Maltby confirmed the island uses the UK’s National Information Centre (ENIC), which evaluates international qualifications against UK education standards and provides advice on their comparability and suitability for employment
You can listen to the full exchange below:
