AQW 5234/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 25/10/2022
Answered On Date: 08/02/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on the public consultation on the functions delivered by the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland.

Answer:

The public consultation ran from 13 June to 30 September 2022 and a detailed analysis of the responses received was published in October 2022. A link to the analysis can be found here. Consultation on Functions Delivered by GTCNI - Analysis of Responses

A majority of those who responded agreed that all of GTCNI's current functions should be maintained and that the establishment of a new regulatory body for the profession should be the preferred way forward. This will require new primary legislation.

Since then, the Department has undertaken further engagement with the profession, with other UK and ROI teaching regulators and with other stakeholders. These discussions have allowed us to refine our thinking on the form a replacement for GTCNI should take.

An update on our current thinking was shared with every teacher on 05 February 2024. As part of this process, we are seeking further feedback from the profession, prior to officials presenting options and recommendations for a GTCNI replacement Bill for Ministerial consideration.