§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a list of qualifications to teach which can be obtained in Northern Ireland which will be fully recognised by education authorities in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.
§ Mr. ButcherI have been asked to reply.
Such qualifications are not automatically acceptable for qualified teacher status in England and Wales, individual applications from teachers trained in Northern Ireland fall to be considered by my right hon. Friend under paragraph 2(b) of schedule 5 to the Education (Teachers) Regulations 1982. Applications are accepted where the course of initial teacher training was comparable to an approved course of initial teacher training for school teachers available in England or Wales at the same time. Qualifications leading to registration as a teacher in Scotland are those recognised by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
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§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make the necessary arrangements whereby automatic recognition of teachers qualified to teach and recognised as such in Northern Ireland will occur in England, Scotland and Wales.
§ Mr. ButcherI have been asked to reply.
I expect shortly to announce details of the proposed reform of qualified teacher status which was the subject of a consultation document issued by my Department in May 1988. When implemented, teachers qualified to teach and recognised as such in Northern Ireland will be eligible for qualified teacher status in England and Wales. Eligibility to teach in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.