General Teaching Council Northern Ireland

GTCNI Launches Charter for Education

22-06-2006

News Release

GTCNI Launches Charter for Education as antidote to 'role overload for teachers.'

 

The body that represents Northern Ireland's teaching profession the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland will today launch a Charter for Education in Northern Ireland.

The Charter which has been endorsed by all of the stakeholders in education, from teachers to employers, and policy makers to politicians, sets out clearly the purposes of education and the actions required from all if we are to prepare our children adequately for the challenges of the future.

Speaking about the launch the Registrar of the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) Eddie McArdle said,

"Education is the subject of much discussion in society, and rightly so, but what has been missing thus far has been a common or agreed understanding as to the core purposes of education. The Charter is also a timely reminder that the process of education is not confined to the school alone but is a co-operative exercise involving families and the wider society."

Speaking of the dedication of teachers he continued, "We in the profession have always recognised and readily embraced our responsibilities as evidenced by our own Professional Code. What this Charter does is afford the other players, an opportunity to affirm their commitment to the development of a world-class education service."

He continued, "The Charter is particularly welcome in that it offers an effective antidote to what has been described as 'role inflation' for teachers." By way of explanation he concluded, "Whilst the teaching profession is happy to take an inclusive view of the process of education it is unfair to expect teachers and schools to provide definitive answers for issues such as drugs, community discord etc. We surely have a role to play but as the Charter indicates the process of education is a collegiate enterprise embracing teachers, parents and other agencies. We as teachers recognise the trust placed in us by parents and by society and we commit ourselves to working assiduously to honour our commitments and retain trust."

Click here to view a copy of the Charter.

Ends
Media queries to: Mark Mc Laughlin Public Relations Officer. Tel. (028) 90348791 Email: mmclaughlin@gtcni.org.uk

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