Proposals for setting up an independent body to deal with professional misconduct among teachers and to set standards for entry to the profession are to be presented to the Cabinet in a fortnight.
The setting up of a teaching council is one of the most far-reaching attempts by the Government to give parents a greater role and to provide more accountability in the profession. The Minister for Education, Mr Martin, told The Irish Times yesterday that the "grievance mechanism" included as part of a teaching council would deliver the accountability. The council would lead to the "professionalisation and regularisation" of the profession.
The proposals are being circulated to other government departments and the Bill is expected to be published within a month.
The new body, according to the proposals, will operate on a similar basis to the Bar and the Medical Council. It will deal with cases involving teachers that are normally handled at school level or in the courts.
The most controversial aspect of the teaching council is its power to deregister teachers after investigating complaints from parents or others. It is understood that only "substantial" complaints will be dealt with by the council's investigating and disciplinary committees.
After an initial inquiry by the investigating committee, the disciplinary committee would take over and conduct a hearing. Several sanctions could then be imposed. They include permanent and temporary deregistering, the imposition of terms on the teacher, or requiring the teacher to attend a development course.
Some teaching unions are concerned that some routine complaints could end up being investigated by the council. However, the Bill attempts to deal with this by strictly setting out the grounds for a complaint. These range from committing a criminal offence to the less serious lack of fitness to practise.
The teaching council would also set out a framework for in-career development of teachers and in general would represent the interests of the profession. In addition, the minister for education and science would be advised by the committee on teacher supply and demand.
The council is to be independent of the Department and will raise funds by charging teachers £50 each.