The Teaching Council has proposed to commence a new pilot project over the next two years to develop a new model of induction and probation of new entrants into the profession. The pilot project will cover both primary and post-primary teachers. Named Droichead, the Irish for “bridge”, the pilot project aims to build on the feedback received by the Council on the issue last year. The Council remarked:
“The Droichead document outlines the broad aim of this process. At its core is a culture whereby teachers, as a community of professional learners, would be the first to welcome their newly qualified colleagues into the most important profession in society. Through the pilot, which is an opt-in scheme, we are asking the profession to help us in filling in the detail of how the process can work best in the school. Therefore this provides a unique opportunity for the teaching profession to inform the model of induction and probation”.
The proposed pilot project will take place in in the seven counties which traditionally have attracted the highest number of newly qualified teachers (Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Kildare, Meath and Wexford). Across these counties, the Council is proposing to involve approximately 200 primary and 100 post primary schools in the pilot project. In the interim, existing arrangements for induction and probation will continue in all schools not involved in the pilot project.
The INTO has said that it will consider the Droichead document, consult with INTO members and the CEC before making a formal response to the Teaching Council on the document.
The Droichead document, outlining the pilot project in more detail can be downloaded from the Teaching Council website HERE
