Teachers’ body to get beefed-up powers

THE power to hold inquiries into teachers who breach conduct rules and remove their authority to work in schools will soon be handed over to the profession’s self-regulation body.

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe told members of the Teaching Council yesterday that he will soon commence the part of the 2001 Teaching Council Act that allows these powers.

The council was formally established three years ago and the main focus of its work to date has been to ensure all qualified teachers are properly registered with it. The number registered now stands at more than 64,000 and the council arranged for more than 6,200 new entrants to the profession to undergo Garda vetting in the past year.