The New Zealand Post Primary Teachers' Association / Te Wehengarua (PPTA) is concerned some schools are developing new appraisal processes around the Registered Teacher Criteria (RTC) that seem to be unnecessarily bureaucratic and low-trust.
Extensive collection of evidence by experienced teachers is not required by Teachers Council
Frequently these processes require extensive collection of evidence by experienced teachers, not just by beginning teachers working towards full registration. Some schools are justifying these processes because "the Teachers Council requires it", which is untrue – we have confirmed this with the Teachers Council.
The council's Registered Teacher Criteria handbook 2010 states, "The degree of formality and extent of documentation of evidence supporting the demonstration of the Registered Teacher Criteria will clearly be different for experienced teachers renewing practising certificates in contrast to what is required by provisionally registered teachers working towards gaining full registration, which may be more extensive and formal" (p5).
Registered Teacher Criteria handbook 2010
Rumours that the council now requires teachers to maintain an e-portfolio of evidence are also untrue. However, individual schools may require this information for appraisal purposes.
As long as a school's appraisal and attestation systems are sound, these should not make a substantial difference to current practice.
All teachers need to be using the RTC as their registration falls due.
The RTC are now mandatory for all teachers renewing or reapplying for a Practising Certificate.
The Teachers Council run RTC workshops and have quite a lot of information and supporting material.
Registered Teacher Criteria on the Teachers Council website
If schools are not aware of the RTC, or appear to be implementing them in ways that are onerous and low-trust, please let us know at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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