Thinking about teaching?

What is Initial Teacher Education?  

Initial Teacher Education (ITE) is a programme of study towards a teaching qualification at level 7 on the NZQA Register of Quality Assured Qualifications which will enable you to teach in New Zealand early childhood education (ECE) services, schools (primary, intermediate and secondary) or kura (Māori medium or immersion). There are a range of ITE approved programmes:

  • undergraduate degrees of 3 or 4 years length
  • undergrduate diplomas of 3 years length
  • graduate diplomas of one year's length (for those with a suitable qualification at level 7 or above)

ITE programmes will comprise a mix of curriculum, learning and pedagogical theory, professional studies, practicum experiences, and cultural studies that will prepare you to teach in the complex and challenging education environment in Aotearoa New Zealand.

 

Which education sector might I teach in - Early Childhood/Primary/Secondary/Māori medium?

Deciding which education sector is the one you want to teach in will determine which ITE programme is suitable for you. Some of the ITE programmes are specifically for either ECE (0-5 years old), Māori immersion, primary (school years 0-8) or secondary (school years 7 or 9-13) while others leave the choice until later in the programme.

Intermediate schools cover school years 7-8 and these years are covered in primary and secondary ITE programmes. There are also some ITE programmes that cover early childhood and the early years of school (children aged 0-8 years old).

It is recommended that you spend some time observing at least a full day in classrooms or Early Childhood Education (ECE) settings to help you make your decision. You will need to make contact with your local schools, kura or ECE settings to do this.

On completion of your ITE qualification you can apply to the Teachers Council for registration as a teacher. When this is granted you will be registered as a teacher without restriction to a specific education sector. However, currently the Ministry of Education only recognises early childhood education and primary teaching qualifications for funding purposes for teaching in an ECE service.

 

What questions should I be asking my provider when selecting an ITE programme?

To maximise your learning from your ITE programme it is important to ensure that the support you require will be available. You need to think about how you learn best. If you are a person who learns best from experiences, from doing and observing then you are likely to be suited to a face to face campus based programme. People who prefer learning by reading and online discussion are likely to enjoy an online delivery. The following link provides some possible questions that you could ask the provider:

 

Which ITE programmes are approved by the New Zealand Teachers Council for teacher registration?

All teachers in schools, kura and some ECE services must be registered teachers. To be eligible for teacher registration you must have completed an ITE programme approved by the New Zealand Teachers Council. There are currently 127 approved programmes of ITE. These programmes are listed under the following links:

Programmes:

What are the Graduating Teacher Standards (GTS)?

These standards are the knowledge, skills and dispositions that a graduate of a New Zealand initial teacher education programme must meet. Teacher education providers develop and align their programmes to ensure graduates will meet these standards: