Graduates of diploma course in physical education unable to register with Teaching Council

In order to work as a teacher in Ireland, one must be registered with the Teaching Council. File picture: Collins

Recent graduates of a diploma course in physical education, available through a private college and costing thousands in course fees, have been left unable to register with the Teaching Council. 

The minister for education has confirmed most applicants who completed the diploma in question from Portobello Institute between 2022 and 2025 have not met the Teaching Council's requirements. 

In order to work as a teacher in Ireland, one must be registered with the Teaching Council.

Some applicants have now also completed additional modules, intended to address shortfalls identified by the Teaching Council, Hildegarde Naughton said in a recent parliamentary question.

"For the applicants assessed to date, the completion of these additional modules has not resulted in them meeting the registration requirements.

"The Teaching Council will liaise with each applicant who contacts them and will confirm whether any further proposed studies will satisfy any shortfalls identified."

The number of affected graduates is understood to be in the double digits. 

Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) said it is aware of concerns around the information provided to learners about the course. 

"QQI has engaged with the Teaching Council on this matter and confirmed that the programme is not accredited by them and that it does not meet subject curricular requirements for transferring to Professional Masters in Education (PME) programmes or for existing qualified teachers to add physical education as an additional subject.

"While the programme is not validated by QQI, there is a statutory expectation that accurate information is provided to learners by education providers."

Portobello Institute did not respond to a request for comment. 

A spokesman for the Teaching Council said it has no role in accreditation of the programmes. 

It did however, "liaise" with Portobello Institute and Liverpool John Moores University, as the awarding body at that time, "in terms of advising that the programme does not meet the curricular subject requirements", he added. 

Education spokesperson for the Social Democrats Jen Cummins said she will be raising the case further with the minister. 

"It is an awful situation," she said. 

"From my own perspective, I am very concerned that there is an ability for a course to be provided, saying that it's going to lead to certain qualifications, and they do not."