FAQS: Enhanced induction and mentoring for 2020 grads
I don’t know if I am eligible, how can I find out?
I’m working part-time/relieving, can I still enrol?
I don’t have a work-based teacher mentor, can I still enrol?
I’m not teaching in Auckland – how will the University of Auckland deliver the programme for me?
Is the programme linked to my practising certificate or teacher registration?
Will teachers participating in the programme be assessed or graded?
I don’t know if I am eligible, how can I find out?
You can contact the Teaching Council and ask us if you’re eligible for the programme. Alternatively, please talk to your initial teacher education provider to find out if your programme used the temporary 25% reduction in practical experience requirements. Initial teacher education providers delivered all sorts of ‘alternative practical experiences’ during 2020, and some of these experiences will count towards your practical experience requirements. Please note that if you are eligible, you’ll still need to be registered and employed in a teaching job before being able to enrol and participate in the programme.
No. However, the Teaching Council strongly encourages you to enrol if you are eligible. The programme is designed to provide you with helpful additional support for the start of your teaching career. The programme doesn’t cost you or your employer anything, and doesn’t require extra administrative work.
I’m working part-time/relieving, can I still enrol?
Yes! To enrol in the programme and get the most out of it, participants need to be regularly teaching in a consistent context. This might be a full-time role in one learning setting, a part-time role in one learning setting, or long-term relieving in a consistent learning setting.
I don’t have a work-based teacher mentor, can I still enrol?
You can. If you’re employed full-time in a teaching position you’re entitled to have a teacher mentor assigned to you. However, if you don’t have a work-based mentor yet, but are otherwise eligible, you can still enrol and complete the enhanced induction and mentoring programme.
I am participating in the University of Otago’s professional learning and development (PLD) to support Provisionally Certificated Teachers (PCTs), can I still enrol?
Yes you can. The University of Otago programme is available to all PCTs working in schools, to support them through to full certification. The program also provides support for school-based mentors to ensure new teachers receive high quality induction and mentoring. The enhanced induction and mentoring programme is specifically for people who graduated from their initial teacher education programme in 2020, using the reduced practicum requirements adopted by the Teaching Council in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.
I’m employed in a non-qualified role at an ECE centre (even though I’m a registered teacher), can I still enrol?
Yes – as long as you’re registered with the Teaching Council. We know times are still really tough in the ECE sector and that you might have chosen to take an ‘unqualified’ role. Because you’re a trained teacher, we know you’ll still be using your teaching skills and knowledge at work, even if your job title is ‘unqualified’. For this reason, you’re still eligible for the programme and can enrol.
Why do only some 2020 teaching graduates get access to this course? We were all affected by COVID-19!
We were definitely all affected by COVID-19, but New Zealand’s initial teacher education programmes were affected differently depending on lots of factors for example, location, programme design, education sector, timetables, and local schools and centres’ unique contexts. Providers worked hard to give student teachers as much valuable practical experience as was possible in their programmes, but it was not the same for everyone.
Some programmes needed to take advantage of the Teaching Council’s temporary 25% reduction in practical experience requirements. This meant those student teachers missed out on experiences other 2020 student teachers received and the enhanced induction and mentoring programme is intended to offset some of these discrepancies.
I’m not teaching in Auckland – how will the University of Auckland deliver the programme for me?
The University of Auckland (UoA) is the lead provider of the enhanced induction and mentoring programme. However, the programme is accessible anywhere in New Zealand. UoA will work with New Zealand’s other universities to arrange a mentor close to where you’re teaching. Each university has been allocated regions in which to provide the enhanced induction and mentoring programme. The university responsible for your region will make contact when they receive your enrolment.
Is the programme linked to my practising certificate or teacher registration?
No. If you’ve successfully completed your initial teacher education and been granted teacher registration and a practising certificate, the Teaching Council considers you qualified to begin teaching in New Zealand. There are no conditions related to the enhanced induction and mentoring programme.
If I do the enhanced induction and mentoring programme, do I still need to do ‘normal’ induction and mentoring too?
Yes. In order to progress from a provisional practising certificate to a full practicing certificate, you’ll still need to successfully complete two years of induction and mentoring. The enhanced induction and mentoring programme is an extra opportunity on top of this standard induction and mentoring.
Will teachers participating in the programme be assessed or graded?
No. The programme is intended to support the reflection and professional growth that you should already be doing as a teacher. Teachers won’t be given a grade and there is no pass/fail assessment.
Can I enrol in the programme later in 2021 if I don’t have a teaching position at the start of the year?
Yes, we will be accepting enrolments throughout the year.